asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the difficulty of those who avail themselves of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts to build houses owing to the necessity of finding twenty-five per cent. of the capital; and if he will introduce legislation to amend the Acts so that the entire sum may be available on loan to those wishing to avail themselves of such facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amendment of Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts.
9.
Section 19 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1956, enables a housing authority to make an advance under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts of 95% of the market value of a house, grants being deducted from the market value; the maximum advance is £1,800 in the larger urban centres and £1,600 elsewhere. If therefore, local authorities make available the full facilities authorised by the Housing Acts, as I have asked them to do, a person otherwise eligible for a Small Dwellings advance need not be called on to contribute more than 5% of the net capital cost of a house, that is, 5% of the gross capital cost less grants, where the local authority regard capital cost as equivalent to the market value as statutorily defined.
I take it that, if they so desire, a local authority has statutory authority to give the full amount?
The local authority has the statutory authority. In the case of some persons, whose means are above the level decided by the local authority, they may not make 95 per cent. of the total available. It may be a slightly lower figure.