asked the Minister for Local Government whether he recommended to Kerry County Council that a differential or graded rent system based on the capacity of the tenants to pay be operated in respect of their cottages; and, if so, whether such a system is operated in Kerry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Cottage Rents.
11.
Under Article 4 (1) (e) of the Housing Authorities (Loan Charges Contributions and Management) Regulations, 1967, made by me on the 13th April, 1967, the payment of housing subsidy to a local authority is conditional on lettings of new dwellings by the local authority, being in accordance with a rent scheme approved by me which takes account of the financial circumstances of the household and the standard of accommodation and amenity of the dwellings. Under these regulations, subsidy will not be paid for any new houses let on fixed rents.
The regulations also provide that the payment of housing subsidy by me is conditional on all existing dwellings being let at income-related rents "as soon as is reasonably practicable". The decision as to when or how it is "reasonably practicable" to adopt such rent schemes is a matter in the first instance for the authority concerned, subject to review by me in connection with subsidy payments to the authority.
Since these regulations apply equally to all local authorities, it will be seen that the question of a recommendation by me to Kerry County Council to adopt differential or graded rents did not arise. I did, however, inform the council on the 21st February, 1967, that I would not be prepared to approve a scheme of fixed rents for eight new houses at Ballybunion. On 22nd May, 1967, the council submitted a graded rent scheme applicable to single rural cottages provided by them after 1st April, 1967, for my approval and on the 2nd October, 1967, they also submitted a graded rent scheme applicable to the eight houses at Ballybunion. I approved of these schemes, subject to certain conditions, on 26th May and 24th November, respectively.