asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the Cobh Urban Council have changed their scheme of house purchase for tenants of their urban houses by increasing the purchase price as follows: O'Rahilly Street from £397 to £975 per house, St. Patrick's Square from £139 to £480 per house, St. Colman's Square from £139 to £415 per house, Glenanaar Place from £151 to £780 per house, and Belmont from £340 to £780 per house; and that these new prices indicate a departure from the principle laid down that each tenant should be given a reasonable opportunity of becoming the owner of his own home; and if he intends taking action on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cobh House Purchase Scheme.
13.
I am aware that Cobh Urban District Council decided recently to increase the sale prices of a number of their houses. The increases were, however, less in some cases than the figures quoted by the Deputy. The revised sale terms were decided by the housing authority on their own initiative. They do not contravene the minimum requirements laid down by me for the sale of urban houses. Intervention on my part would not therefore be appropriate.
Does the Minister consider that, in a period when we are abolishing one type of ground landlord, a local authority should increase the purchase prices of those houses by, in some cases, over 150 per cent?
One could comment that the original price was too low.
From £135 to £480.
I do not know of any place where one could buy a house for £139.
The Minister does not?
I do not.
It is an awful pity the Minister does not. We shall take him down for a while and get him educated before he goes back to the wilds of Donegal.
We do not have this type of house there.
(Interruptions.)
There is a break amongst them already.
A Deputy
They will have to get Captain O'Neill down to settle it.