asked the Minister for Local Government the number of dwelling houses built during each of the ten years ended 31st December 1964 in respect of which no grant was paid under the Housing Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Building of Non-Grant Houses.
31.
The precise information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. As indicated in the housing White Paper, it is estimated that about 150 houses a year are erected without the aid of State grants.
Is it not possible to get the information without a lot of difficulty?
Not readily through my Department.
Surely there are records in every local authority of every house built in the State?
Not necessarily.
Surely permission had to be sought? Can one build a house without permission?
There are certain areas where, prior to the 1963 Act, houses could have been built because planning permission did not operate in those areas.
Do the local authority not know the new houses that are to be rated?
All they would really know are the plans they have passed. They would not know whether they had been carried out.
Is there a chance that the local authority would forget to rate these houses?