asked the Minister for Local Government whether, in view of the present rent strike, he intends to consult with the National Association of Tenant Organisations in an effort to reach a settlement of tenant grievances.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Tenant Grievances.
155.
I have already had two meetings with representatives of this association to discuss their proposals about rents of local authority houses. Their proposals would undermine the fundamental basis of differential renting, which is to relate the rent liability of each tenant as closely as possible to his financial ability to pay. They would favour better-off tenants at the expense of the less well-off tenants and other persons, with about the same income as local authority tenants, who have borrowed to buy their own houses. They would throw an extra burden of £2 million on the rates in the first year, rising annually in future years. This would be additional to the subsidies of nearly £11 million which are being paid by the general body of ratepayers and taxpayers this year to keep the rents of local authority houses at their present low levels. The proposals would also mean the use for subsidising rents of money which should be used instead to build houses for the many thousands of families who badly need them.
In view of the attitude of the association in the discussions I have had with them and their efforts to disrupt the normal workings of local administration by encouraging tenants to with-hold rents due to local authorities, I have at present no intention of consulting them again.
I would, however, point out to the Deputy—as I have informed the association on more than one occasion—that the management and control of houses in their estates is, by law, vested in the local authorities. It is with these authorities, therefore, that the tenants must reach agreement on any issue relating to the tenants of the houses since the local authorities would have to raise the money through increased rates or adjustment of other rents for any concessions they grant.