asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider the removal of the income limit for qualification for supplementary new house grants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Grants.
118.
The primary purpose of the scheme of supplementary housing grants which are payable by local authorities for new houses is to help persons of modest means to provide their own houses as an alternative to seeking subsidised housing accommodation from the local authority. The income limit is used for this purpose and I do not consider that its removal is warranted.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider increasing the income limit to bring it in line with present-day costs?
It has not been very long since the income limit was raised. Consideration is always being given to income limits not only for this but for other purposes.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, for instance, in the Dublin area the income limit is £1,600 but that if a person from the city area applies for a local authority grant his income must be £1,250 plus allowances for spouses and dependants?
The income limits for local authority grants range from £1,250 to £1,650, depending on the number of dependants. For instance, in the case of a person with four dependants, there would be an increase to £1,650.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that one of the main difficulties for a person living in a corporation flat or house in the Dublin area and who wishes to purchase a local authority flat or house which might be situated in the county council area would be that not only would there be this question of a discrepancy between the income limits but there would also be the problem of residential qualifications?
That is a separate question.
119.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state for each year since 1948 (a) the amount of new housing grants allocated and (b) the number of houses covered by such grants.
The information requested is available in my Department from the financial year ended 31st March, 1955 only. As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
Financial Year |
New house grants allocated |
|
|
Amount |
Number of houses |
|
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
|
£ |
||
|
1954-55 |
1,619,952 |
6,030 |
|
1955-56 |
1,624,339 |
5,895 |
|
1956-57 |
1,135,712 |
4,247 |
|
1957-58 |
653,554 |
2,504 |
|
1958-59 |
659,426 |
2,539 |
|
1959-60 |
1,043,732 |
3,868 |
|
1960-61 |
1,266,352 |
4,672 |
|
1961-62 |
1,316,105 |
4,821 |
|
1962-63 |
1,638,466 |
5,706 |
|
1963-64 |
2,078,700 |
7,531 |
|
1964-65 |
2,308,527 |
7,910 |
|
1965-66 |
2,298,957 |
7,940 |
|
1966-67 |
1,646,171 |
5,695 |
|
1967-68 |
2,559,639 |
8,467 |
|
1968-69 |
2,779,028 |
9,523 |
|
1969-70 |
2,855,152 |
9,679 |
|
1970-71 |
4,420,054 |
14,546 |
|
1971-72 |
4,593,462 |
14,369 |
NOTE: Column 3 does not include a number of grants allocated for tenant purchase dwellings provided by local authorities between 1967-68 and 1970-71. Details of these grants are as follows:—
|
Financial year |
Number of grants allocated |
|
1967-68 |
342 |
|
1968-69 |
36 |
|
1969-70 |
90 |
|
1970-71 |
56 |