asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received representations from Birr Tenant's Association in connection with the scheme for the purchase by the tenants of the Birr Urban District Council houses, County Offaly; if he is aware of the clauses of the scheme to which the tenants object; why he refused to meet a deputation from the association to discuss these matters and to hear why the date of the scheme should have been extended to allow tenants time to negotiate more reasonable terms; why rents are increased under the purchase scheme; and if he will make a general statement in relation to this urgent problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Tenant Purchase Scheme.
37.
On 28th September last I received a telegram from the secretary of the Birr Tenants' Association indicating that the terms of a tenant-purchase scheme made by the urban council in respect of 274 houses in 1954 and approved by the then Minister for Local Government, were unacceptable to the association and requesting an extension of the time within which tenants could apply to purchase their houses under the scheme.
As regards the terms of the scheme, the purchase price was related to the minimum terms indicated in my Department's letter, H.6/53 of 11th July, 1953, and the other conditions were those normally applied to urban tenant-purchase schemes throughout the country. The scheme did not contain any provision for increases in rents but allowed of purchase for amounts ranging from 6/2d to 10/10d a week.
On the question of extending the time within which tenants could apply to purchase under the scheme, I would point out that the scheme was in force for almost 12 years and that, in addition, every tenant was notified individually by the urban council in April or May, 1967, on 13th July, 1967, and again on the 13th September, 1967, of the terms on which he could purchase his house and of the latest date for receipt of purchase applications.
Under the Housing Act (Commencement) Order, 1967, made on 13th April, 1967, the date for the repeal of the provision under which the purchase scheme was made was 30th September, 1967. Since I have no power to alter this date, there would have been no point in my putting the members of the association to the trouble of a deputation.
It is open to the urban council to make a scheme under section 90 of the Housing Act, 1966, providing for the sale of the houses to the tenants. Under the Housing Authorities (Loan Charges Contributions and Management) Regulations, 1967, such a scheme may provide for sales at the market or replacement value of the houses, less an allowance of 2 per cent for each year after five during which the tenant has been continuously in occupation of a local authority dwelling, subject to a maximum allowance of 30 per cent.