asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that a number of Dublin County Council cottages are overcrowded by the families of the tenants' married children because regulations will not permit payment of the full State subsidy towards the cost of new cottages for such families; and if he will take steps to ensure that full payment of the subsidy will be made in cases where families with two or more children are recommended by the county medical officers for rehousing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin County Council Cottages.
72.
It is a breach of the Housing (Management and Letting) Regulations to permit the occupation of a housing authority dwelling by a family other than the family having the tenancy. Where such subtenanting has occurred, the housing authority is expected to encourage subtenants, such as married sons and daughters, to rehouse themselves by making available to the fullest extent the grant and loan facilities and developed sites authorised under the Housing Acts. Subsidy at the lower rate is generally available towards the rehousing of such person by the housing authority and, where the circumstances so warrant, subsidy at the higher rate can be paid on medical or compassionate grounds. Generally, however, families living in unfit and unhealthy dwellings must continue to have prior claim on the resources of the housing authority. This is the object of the present policy on letting priorities and on subsidies and, until the slum clearance programme has been brought nearer to completion, there would be manifest objections to a relaxation of that policy.