asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the sharp increase in the price of houses; and if there are any steps he can take to curb these price increases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Prices.
59.
As the Minister for Local Government has stated in reply to Question No. 15 today, the average gross price of new houses increased by about six per cent from the first of the third quarter of the current financial year. I have not had complaints of this increase, but where I receive complaints of excessive increases I will have investigations made with the object of curbing such increases within the powers available to me under the Prices Acts.
Does the Minister consider the situation is one that calls for no special examination by him at present? Does not the percentage increase indicate the Department should actively investigate the current price situation in houses and not wait for private individuals to come to him?
We have a pretty accurate analysis available to us as to the cause of these increases, but the Deputy is aware that this is not of any particular value unless we have specific cases where we can try to do something about it.