asked the Minister for Local Government if he will take steps to increase the maximum SDA loan payable by Dublin Corporation to persons desiring to purchase their own houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Purchase Loans.
12.
The maximum loan limits applicable to house purchase loans in all areas, including Dublin, are kept under review in the light of the level of house prices generally.
I am not in a position, however, to indicate whether or when the existing limits will be changed.
Does the Minister not regard the maximum loan of £2,700 as entirely inadequate in view of the prices of houses in Dublin and of the amount of deposit which it is necessary for anybody purchasing a house to have? Does he not regard as significant the fact that a person would need to have at least £1,000 deposit on the prices at present prevailing in Dublin?
No. There are sufficient applicants available to take up the money available and obviously the deposits on the houses for which these loans are available are much less than the figure mentioned by the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that while there may be sufficient applicants for the money available, there are many more people who would wish to buy their own houses if they were in a position to get those houses on a reasonable deposit?
I think it is desirable that the scheme should be utilised for low-cost houses rather than more expensive houses.
13.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will take steps to provide that Dublin Corporation will provide loans to persons who wish to purchase previously occupied houses.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question of 15th February, 1967, in this matter. I understand that the corporation, in fact, now make loans available for previously-occupied houses to persons on their approved waiting list and to tenants of corporation houses who surrender their dwelling to the corporation. A total of 32 loans amounting to £58,230 were made for previously occupied houses in 1967-68.