asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (a) the number of applications for loans under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts which were submitted to the Dublin County Council in the period 1st October, 1955, to 31st May, 1956, (b) the number of such applications which have been approved, (c) the number awaiting approval, (d) the number rejected and the reasons for rejection, and (e) the number of cases in which the loans have been advanced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Small Dwellings Loans.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will give particulars of the new regulations made by the Dublin County Council in relation to the wage and salary limits of persons who will in future be eligible for loans under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that a large number of house builders in Dublin are seriously embarrassed financially because of the long delay in advancing loans under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts to persons for whom they have built houses, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that persons who entered into contracts to purchase houses in County Dublin with the assistance of loans under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts are now unable to obtain such loans, and if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that certain persons whose applications for loans under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts from the Dublin County Council were sanctioned prior to 10th March, 1956, on the basis of the old rate of interest, have been notified by the council that a higher rate will be payable and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter in order to alleviate the hardship thus imposed.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions numbered 16 to 20 together.
I beg your pardon, Sir. This is not a fair way to answer a Deputy. I have several questions down and I desire a specific answer for each question.
Questions Nos. 16 to 20 together.
Issues from the Local Loans Fund being made to Dublin County Council for the purposes of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts are subject to advances from such issues being confined to applicants who could not reasonably be expected to finance the provision of their houses otherwise. The application of this condition is a matter for the local authority, who will, no doubt, have regard to the facilities which are available from building societies and assurance companies. In this connection I would refer the Deputy to the recent statements which the Minister has made in regard to the guarantee scheme in relation to advances for house purchase by building societies for which he proposes to make provision in the forthcoming Housing Bill.
It is also for the local authority to determine the rate of interest to be charged on advances subject to their complying with the requirements of Section 40 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948. I understand that as a result of the issue of the Department's circular letter in October, 1952, the county council, when acknowledging the receipt of applications for advances, notified the applicants that the advances, if approved, will be issued at such rate of interest as may be fixed from time to time by the council and that it should not be assumed that the rate of interest currently in force will be operative when advances are issued. I understand also that the letter of acknowledgment warns applicants that if they enter into commitments in connection with the purchase or erection of a house before an advance has been approved by the council, they do so on their own responsibility.
Any further information required by the Deputy in relation to these or other aspects of the administration of the Acts by the county council including particulars of regulations made by the council and particulars of applications made for advances, might be sought direct from the council.
With regard to the Deputy's references to delays in the issue of advances to applicants in Dublin, I would like to make it clear that all instalments so far sought by the Dublin Corporation, Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire Corporation of loans sanctioned from the Local Loans Fund for the purpose of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts have been issued to those local authorities.
When the Parliamentary Secretary failed to give me a specific answer to the questions I have put down, I will not be able to deal fully with the matter. Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that one applicant was notified by Dublin County Council on 9th March that a cheque for the final instalment of his loan was available? A fortnight afterwards, the very same solicitor was notified by the solicitor to the county council that he could not have the loan at the old rate and that the grant was withdrawn. Does the Parliamentary Secretary think that is fair treatment for applicants who, in good faith, entered into agreements to purchase houses? There was a lot of talk when we raised the rate——
The Deputy is making a speech.
I have been treated badly here to-day on this matter.
The Deputy should not make an argument out of a question.
I am anxious to see that all the applicants who entered into commitments prior to 10th March will get their loans at the old rate. Is the Parliamentary Secretary further aware that a number of builders in Dublin to-day are practically "burst" as a result of the way they have been treated by the Government? Is the Parliamentary Secretary going to do anything about that?
The Deputy has got in a good speech by way of question. I must ask him to desist.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I gave the Deputy a very comprehensive reply to his questions. I would ask him to take the reply with him and study it.