asked the Minister for Local Government what counties give supplementary housing grants; and what counties do not.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplementary Housing Grants.
19.
Supplementary grants are made by all county councils in respect of new houses and by all county councils other than Kerry in respect of the reconstruction or improvement of houses.
Would the Minister say on what basis the local contribution is made?
They all have their own schemes and not all of them are uniform from county to county. Within general limits, they may develop their own scheme and within the schemes, emphasis is given to different categories or classes in different local authority areas, according to the need as the local authority sees it.
Will the Minister say on what basis it is in relation to the State grant? Is it on a percentage basis?
Heretofore up to an income limit of £832, an amount of supplementary grant not exceeding the amount paid by the State might be paid by the local authority. Some of them worked it to the limit and some of them worked it halfway or——
The Minister has not got details?
I have not got details with me here. They are not readily available to me.
Is the Minister aware that on 9th July last, before we adjourned, he informed this House that certain counties, in which the local authority had a Fine Gael majority, were not co-operating with the Government, and we now find that the only county which is not giving supplementary grants is a county where Fianna Fáil have a majority?
That is not a question.
The Minister made that statement in the House and we now find that it is untrue.
That is not a question.
I asked the Minister if he was aware that he had made this statement. The statement is incorrect. A county with a Fianna Fáil majority——
There is a coalition majority in Kerry.
There is not. It has a Fianna Fáil chairman.