asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the fact that only one-third subsidy is available to local authorities for the rehousing of sub-tenants in local authority houses in many cases makes the local authority reluctant to rehouse such persons even when conditions of severe overcrowding occur; and whether, in view of the hardship thus imposed on such subtenants and the bad housing conditions which result from the situation, he will make provision for the two-thirds subsidy to be paid on all housing in order to relieve overcrowding and poor housing conditions regardless of the fact that sub-tenants of local authority houses are involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Subsidy.
9.
As I have stated in reply to previous questions on this subject, the object of present subsidy policy is to secure that families living in unfit or unhealthy houses will have a prior claim on the attention of the housing authority. To encourage this approach, the higher rate of subsidy is made available specifically in association with the statutory operations of the housing authority such as the demolition, closure or repair of unfit dwellings and the relief of overcrowding. Where the circumstances so warrant, however, subsidy at the higher rate may be paid in respect of the rehousing of any family, on medical or compassionate grounds, including subtenants in local authority houses. As indicated in the recent White Paper, the problem of sub-tenanting in such houses is being reviewed with a view to some relaxation in the present policy in this regard.