asked the Minister for Local Government when the recent Housing Act will become law.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Act.
35.
I hope to be in a position in the near future to make the necessary commencement order bringing the Housing Act, 1966, into operation.
The Minister is aware that this delay in bringing the Act into operation has left the local authorities in a most difficult position? Certain facets of the Act make changes. The whole progress of local authority work has been slowed down by the fact that the Act is not in operation.
This is a factor which I have no doubt exists to some degree.
It certainly does in Louth.
It is the factor which is pressing me, despite any other difficulties, to try to get this into operation as soon as possible. I should like the House to know that certain regulations must be made as a prerequisite to bringing the Act into operation. These are well advanced in draft form and a circular covering the whole of the Act is almost complete in draft form also. As I said, I hope to be in a position pretty soon to bring it into operation.
Could the Minister put a date on it?
I would like to but I cannot.
Can the Minister say if he is making any arrangement to cover the people who, under the impression that the Act was in force, started to build houses of 1,500 square feet?
That seems to be a separate question.
It is not, Sir.
The Deputy knows the answer. It would be more helpful to him if I do not repeat what the answer should be.
We know the Minister does not want to reduce his chances in any way but I think he might make an announcement.
The Deputy misunderstands me. I do not want to reduce the Deputy's chances of succeeding in any of the representations I know he is going to make, using the argument he has made here just now.
The Minister is aware that a number of sections of the Act have already been brought into operation. Surely he would be prepared to add this on? It is causing a considerable amount of confusion.