asked the Minister for Local Government if he will request local authorities not to consider overtime allowances and social welfare contributions when granting new house loans and new house supplementary grants.
11.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing loans and grants.
10.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider changing the present system of assessing applications for housing loans by local authorities so that an applicant's basic wage will be accepted as the ceiling for the purpose of obtaining such loan.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
The maximum qualifying income limits for local authority house-purchase loans and supplementary grants which were increased by me as recently as the 25th May last are being kept under continuous review and suggestions for changes relating to the limits will be borne in mind in this connection.
In my question I asked if overtime will not be taken into consideration in the granting of a loan. In Offaly, Laois and Kildare, overtime is taken into consideration before the granting of a loan for a new house. In view of the fact that the Minister has now waived overtime in connection with rent on houses, I should like to know will he do likewise with housing loans and grants?
That is a separate question.
That is the question I asked.
The answer is that it is under review and that is all I can tell the Deputy.
How long will it be under review?
That is a matter for the Minister for Local Government.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply I propose to raise this question on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
In my question I suggested that a person's basic wage should be considered rather than overtime. The Minister has not answered that question.
He has not answered either of them.
The point raised in the question about determining eligibility on the basis of basic income rather than gross income was referred to in a supplementary question on 5th July, 1973. In reply the Minister said: "At present I am having a look at all aspects of housing and I will be glad to bear that suggestion in mind". That is the present position.