asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the concern among Dublin Corporation tenants at the variance of valuers' prices for their houses; and if, having regard to the refusal of the Dublin City Manager to make any change in this regard, he will have the prices examined by the Commissioner of Valuation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin House Valuations.
45.
I am not so aware. When the corporation submitted the purchase scheme in April last, I consulted the Commissioner of Valuation about the corporation's assessment of the market value of the houses involved. He considered that these values were fair and reasonable. Accordingly, I approved of the purchase scheme in July. I do not propose to have the prices further examined now.
The Deputy pointed out in his question of 8th March, 1967, that the institution of a purchase scheme could seriously affect the existing pool of corporation rented accommodation. It is not, therefore, necessarily in the corporation's interest to sell their houses at all. The fact that over 1,000 tenants have already made firm applications to purchase and that more are continually applying shows that many persons appreciate the offer to buy on the terms which they have got and wish to go ahead with the transaction now rather than later when prices rise.
Surely the Minister is aware that the National Tenants' Association is a responsible organisation and that the spokesman for that organisation has expressed the view indicated in the question? Will the Minister not attach any importance to that concern?
Yes, I do. I also take into account the view expressed by the Deputy here about the inadvisability of selling these houses at all——
——before they were put right. Some of the houses are not in good order. The Minister well knows that.