asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the period November, 1963 to date, as regards the housing element (rent and rates in rented dwellings) in the Consumer Price Index (a) the names of the local authorities entering into the enquiries, (b) the average figure for rent and rates in 1963 and 1965 and (c) the increased percentage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Element in Consumer Price Index.
9.
The rent inquiry for the Consumer Price Index is made at mid-November each year and extends to all local authorities. Data for 1965 are therefore not yet available. In compiling the average local authority rent (including rates) for inclusion in the Consumer Price Index the procedure adopted is to determine the current average rent for (i) county boroughs (ii) urban districts (iii) towns having Town Commissioners and (iv) county councils and to combine these averages using as weights the number of rented dwellings held by each group in 1953. The averages obtained in this way were £36.48 for mid-November, 1963 and £39.32 for mid-November, 1964. The increase between those dates was 7.8 per cent.