Vol. 230 No. 13
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will reconsider the request of Laois County Council for sanction to raise a loan to carry out urgent and necessary repairs to the many council houses whose tenants are anxious to have them vested without delay.
11.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make funds available to enable Donegal County Council to carry out muchneeded pre-vesting repairs to cottages in County Donegal.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take the replies to Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply to Questions Nos. 7, 8 and 9 of 25th October, 1967, on the subject of loans for pre-vesting repairs to council cottages. I may add that the question of making funds available to Donegal County Council for this purpose does not arise. In accordance with normal practice, the council bear the cost of this work from current revenue rather than by borrowing. They have not had a loan application for the purpose before my Department for at least seven years.
Surely the Minister for Local Government is aware that there have been repeated requests from Laois County Council for permission to raise a loan to put the council's property in repair? Is the Minister prepared to reconsider that so that the many applicants for vesting may be able to have their cottages repaired by the council? Further, is the Minister aware that the extent of the repairs would be a severe burden on the ratepayers and the council thought it was much wiser and more economic to have a loan raised for the purpose of putting all the houses in repair, and vesting could take place with the least possible delay and the question of repairs would be finished for all time? Would the Minister reconsider this?
I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister but I should point out that the cost of repairs to local authority houses is properly one which should come out of current revenue. It is up to Laois County Council, like any other council, to keep their property in a state of repair out of current revenue. It is wrong to spend capital which should be used for the building of new houses on such repairs.
The Minister is displaying his complete ignorance of local authority housing.
