asked the Minister for Local Government if he will undertake not to withdraw the subsidy should Dublin Corporation vest their houses in their tenants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation Housing Subsidy.
38.
Mr. Belton
I am not in a position to give the undertaking in question.
Does this not indicate that Dublin Corporation are being unfairly discriminated against inasmuch as tenants of rural cottages do get the benefit of subsidy when they are purchasing whereas I am under the impression the Corporation have been informed that they cannot bring in a purchase scheme because, if they do, they will not get the benefits that now accrue by way of subsidy? Is this not discrimination and is it not unfair?
A number of urban authorities have made tenant purchase schemes despite the fact that this subsidy is not available.
Can the Minister give any reason for this discrimination against the urban authority?
It is not a question of discrimination against the urban authorities. It is considered necessary that urban authorities should retain control of a number of these houses which they erect.
Is it not correct that the encouragement to rural persons is for the purpose of keeping them all in the country and to prevent them from coming up to Dublin? Is that not the answer we got before? When you get a cheap house in the country you stay in it and do not come up to Dublin and crowd us out further.
Mr. Belton
We shall keep the the Deputy in Dublin, anyway.
That was the answer given to the Minister two years ago.