asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state, in respect of each local authority, the amount of money expended on the building of houses in each of the past five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Housing.
25.
The information is not available in my Department.
26.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state, in respect of each local authority, the amount of money borrowed from all sources for the purpose of financing housebuilding in each of the past five years.
The information is not available in my Department.
Is the Minister serious when he says he has not the information sought in this and the previous question?
It probably could be got but it would take a long time. There would be quite a lot of work and expense involved.
Surely each local authority would have the information and it would be only a matter of asking them?
Not necessarily, because they have to raise money in bulk loans and they would have to abstract the various purposes to which they put it. There are also other matters which the question does not seem to include, the cost of site acquisition, legal costs or any of these things that might be added in.
Are all these costs always regarded as being costs in respect of the building of houses?
No, not necessarily.
The Minister thinks there would be tremendous difficulty in getting this information?
It is not that I think it; I have been advised that this is so and have been given reasons why it appears to be so. I am rather convinced by those reasons but I am still open to be convinced otherwise.
We can only take the Minister's word for it but it amazes me that the Minister and the Government should not be able to say in respect of each local authority the amount of money being spent on housing in the past five years.
Not immediately, because the amounts of money drawn by the local authority are not just drawn under the heading "housing" and the loans raised are not necessarily raised under housing only. Therefore, there has to be a breakdown and an abstraction of all the bits and pieces.
I gather, therefore, that none of us on either side of the House can speak with great authority on the expenditure of money by local authorities on housing?
It depends on what you are saying.
27.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state, in respect of each local authority, the amount of money paid in interest by the authority on loans for the purpose of financing housebuilding in each of the past five years.
The particulars requested by the Deputy are not available in my Department.