asked the Minister for Local Government if he will set up special advice bureaux for persons buying a house for the first time; and if he will sponsor suitable television programmes to warn people against the many pitfalls they face in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Bureaux.
61.
The Government announced last year that they would assist local voluntary groups who wished to establish information centres to be known as Community Information Centres and invited the National Social Service Council to act as the central agency in the establishment of such centres. It is envisaged that the centres will provide an information service covering the whole range of statutory entitlements and benefits, including matters related to housing. In the circumstances, therefore, I do not consider that separate advice bureaux for persons buying a house for the first time are necessary.
I share fully, however, the Deputy's concern for house purchasers. Because I believe it is important that they should be well informed on the many aspects of house purchase, I have recently had published a booklet entitled "A Home of Your Own" which contains basic and detailed housing information. Copies of the booklet were recently circulated to all Deputies and it is available free of charge on request from my Department. I do not, however, see any present need to sponsor television programmes specifically for the purpose of warning people of the difficulties involved in house purchase.