asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the regulation making single men ineligible for consideration in housing surveys is having a very serious effect on the marriage rate; and that newly-married couples have to seek accommodation in rooms and flats in cities and towns at exorbitant rents; and if he will take steps to make engaged couples eligible in future housing surveys carried out by local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Survey: Eligibility of Engaged Couples.
20.
There is no regulation which debars single persons or newly married couples from consideration for the tenancy of local authority houses. Subject to the prescribed letting priorities and to the relevant circular letters of the Department, housing authorities should, in their assessments of housing needs, have regard to the needs of such persons if they are living in unfit housing conditions or unable to provide houses for themselves.
Is the Minister not aware that officials now come to the local authority and say the persons who applied for houses are, in fact people who are overcrowded or who are otherwise in their opinion people who should be re-housed. A single boy or single girl who was getting married would hardly be considered by these people. In fact, these officials have disqualified many people whom the local authorities were prepared to re-house.
Perhaps, the Deputy is not quite up-to-date. The position at present and for some time past has been that, as a result of instructions by circular to local authorities, the manager is, in fact, the certifying authority in regard to what houses may or may not be built. We do not send anybody from the Department to disqualify or debar anybody.
You did in the last administration.
I changed the practices that obtained during the previous administration.
Is it not a fact that the Minister prevents houses being built for those people while there is only one-third subsidy on those houses and instructs the local authorities that precedence must be given to those who are eligible for the two-thirds subsidy?
Does the Deputy deny that precedence should be given to the people who are entitled to the higher subsidy ?
Would the Minister not agree that his answer and the circular preclude the people Deputy Corry referred to in his question?
Not if the local authorities build sufficient houses.
Will the houses be sanctioned?