asked the Minister for Local Government whether, in a case where a local authority refuse to increase the rents of their houses, to intends to withhold subsidy for future housing by that local authority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Housing Subsidy.
32.
I would draw the Deputy's attention to my Second Reading speech on the Housing Bill, 1965, on 8th July, last, in which I explained fully the purpose of the provisions in section 44 of the Bill enabling the Minister to require, in connection with subsidy, certain conditions as to rents to be observed.
I should like to emphasise that there is no intention to withhold subsidy merely because a local authority refuses to increase rents. The new power will be used to encourage housing authorities to adopt rational rent policies which relate rents to ability to pay and to the standard of accommodation provided, which ensure that poor persons are not denied rehousing because of inability to pay rent, and that building programmes designed to eliminate unfit and overcrowded conditions are not inhibited by unrealistic rent policies which entail undue burdens on the general body of ratepayers.