asked the Minister for Local Government the date on which the existing standard local government grant for new houses was introduced; the estimated cost of building a utility dwelling in (a) County Meath and (b) County Dublin at that date; and the current cost of such dwellings known to his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New House Grants.
24.
The existing standard local government grant of up to £285 for new houses in urban areas was introduced under the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, and was payable for private houses commenced on or after 1st November, 1947.
The grant of up to £310 for serviced houses in areas without public water and sewerage services was introduced under the Housing (Amendment) Act. 1958, for houses commenced on or after 30th June, 1958.
The grant of up to £460 for serviced houses for farmers and others, in certain categories, providing houses in rural areas was introduced under the Housing Act, 1966, for houses commenced on or after 1st October, 1963.
Since 1952 housing authorities may pay supplementary grants of up to 100 per cent of the State grants to persons in the lower and middle income groups. Expenditure on the grants paid by my Department, and on supplementary grants by local authorities, was £5.3 million approximately in 1967-68 compared with £340,000 in 1948-49.
The information sought on the cost of utility dwellings is not available in my Department. However, the estimated average gross price of a house for which a small dwellings loan was made by Dublin County Council in 1947-48 was about £1,700. In the last quarter of 1967-68, it was about £3,500. I should emphasise that while these figures relate to houses in the same broad category, the standard, size and situation of the houses are not necessarily comparable. Corresponding figures are not available for County Meath.
Does the Minister not agree that in view of the increase of almost £2,000 in the cost of the house since 1948, the time to increase the grants has not only arrived but is long past? Further, does he not agree that the figure for the rural house, the house that is neither in the town nor the city, is only £300 and not £310 which can be obtained only in the case of a public utility society. The Minister should give the correct figure, which is £300.
I did give the correct figure. I said "a grant of up to £310——"
That can only be got if it is a public utility society.
That is right.
The Minister should give the correct figure.
I said "up to £310", and as Deputy Tully knows, there have been other increases since the supplementary grant scheme was introduced.
That is not a State grant.
I know it is not. I do not need Deputy Clinton to tell me that.
The Minister does not need Deputy Clinton——
I do not need Deputy Clinton to tell me anything.
——to tell him that it is ridiculous to be pegging grants at the 1948 level.
That scheme was introduced for people in the lower and middle-income groups who are the people most in need of assistance from public funds.
In view of the fact that the £ is worth only 8/- now in comparison with 1948, would the Minister and the Government not agree to double this grant in order to give an incentive and encouragement to people to build houses for themselves when the Government will not build them for them?
The amount provided under this heading and on supplementary grants by local authorities has increased from £340,000 in 1948-49 to £5.3 million in 1967-68——
And the cost of building has trebled.
——and that is only possible because this Government has been taking care of the country's economy.
Does the Minister not know that neither the value of the £ nor the amount paid has any bearing on the individual house? Would he not agree that since the individual house is costing £2,000 more now than it did in 1948, to continue State grants on the same scale is just ridiculous? Would he not agree at this stage to consider the matter, and if he comes up with something to prove the situation otherwise, we shall have to accept it?
It is being considered.
Good.
It is being considered for a long time.