asked the Minister for Local Government if he will reconsider the existing housing subsidy regulations with a view to allowing the full subsidy in respect of the rehousing of subtenants of local authority houses who became subtenants subsequent to January, 1952.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Subsidies.
The special subsidy concession in the case of houses provided for subtenants displaced from overcrowded local authority dwellings by operation of the by-laws was given to help housing authorities to relieve unavoidable overcrowding which had occurred in the exceptional circumstances of the war and immediate postwar years. This was stated expressly in the Department's circular letter of 18th February, 1952, which made it clear that the concession would apply only in respect of sublettings made up to 31st January, 1952, and that it did not condone the practice of subletting in contravention of the terms of letting agreements which it is the duty of housing authorities to enforce. I regret I am not prepared to grant an extension of the concession in respect of sublettings made after 31st January, 1952.