asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the deteriorating supply position and the sharply increasing prices of timber used in house building; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Timber Prices.
5.
I am aware through the recent report of An Foras Forbartha on the materials supply position for housing that certain difficulties have arisen in the supply of timber in recent months. These, I understand, arise from the policy of importers and merchants to reduce the high level of stocks they were carrying coupled with the policy of buying forward on a cautious short-term basis. I understand also that the practice of allowing price discounts when large stocks were being carried may have been affected by these policies leading to some increase in prices. My information is that, at this stage, it seems unlikely that a serious shortage of materials will develop leading to prolonged delay. The position, however, in regard to supply and price is being kept under review.
Would the Minister agree that the complete loss of confidence in Government policy in relation to the building industry by those involved in that industry has been responsible for the running down of the stocks of timber and that the new stocks now being purchased at vastly increased prices will result in increases in the price of new houses in the future and that those who would normally buy or build their own house will be unable to do so?
I do not believe that at all. When I took office one of the first things I ran into—Deputy Faulkner made me aware of it if he was not then in charge—was that there was a shortage of timber. It could equally be said then that this resulted in an increase in house prices but I never made that claim and I do not think it applies now any more than it did then.
Surely the Minister will agree that large stocks of timber were in the merchants' timber yards because they were led to believe by the Government that there would be immediate use for it? Instead such merchants have now lost complete confidence in the industry because of the policy of the Government and this will create a serious problem for those who have to buy houses in the future.
Must I repeat again that for the last three years Fianna Fáil were in power the average number of houses built was 14,600 per year? Nothing less than 25,000 houses per year were built by the present Government. Bearing that in mind Deputy Faulkner should try and face reality. He should realise that nearly twice the number of houses are being built annually compared with when his party were in office.
Since the Minister has side-tracked this issue will the Minister agree that in the second last year of Fianna Fáil administration 15,000 houses were built while in the last year of Fianna Fáil administration 21,500 houses were built? Would the Minister agree that preparations were made for the building of more houses in the following year and that he built the houses on the basis that the plans had been prepared for him?
I can only go on the basis of a statement issued by Fianna Fáil in November, 1972, when they stated that there might be as many as 17,000 or 18,000 houses needed by the 1980s, if the money was available. Deputy Faulkner should look up that statement and see what the position would be had they remained in Government. Do not try to get away from that; it is around your neck and it will stay there.
Does the Minister agree that the procedure which he normally adopts of giving an average figure for Fianna Fáil's time and relating it to an individual figure in his own period of office is done for the purpose of misleading?
The average for Fianna Fáil was 14,600 as against an average of 26,700 in our time and Deputy Faulkner can have that information for nothing.
It is the average from now on that will count.