asked the Minister for Local Government the present housing subsidy capital limit; and if he will consider raising this level which has been virtually unchanged since 1948 although housing costs have more than doubled over this period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Subsidy Capital.
61.
The subsidisable limits for local authority housing are £3,100 for a flat in a building of six or more storeys, £2,650 for other flats, £1,850 for a serviced house and £1,200 for an unserviced house.
These limits have been revised four times since 1948-49. At present, subsidy on them is equivalent to about £106 a year for up to 50 years for a serviced house compared with about £57 a year in 1953 when the former system of capital grants was terminated.
I do not propose to increase the limits further at present. The position, however, is kept under constant review.
I understand that the capital limit in 1948 for a serviced house was £1,650 and that this has been advanced only a couple of hundred since then. Would the Minister not reconsider this in view of the increased cost of building because this is placing a very severe burden on local authorities and is a big factor in the present drop in local authority housing as against grant aided housing.
The matter will be kept under review.