asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy why the 1978 provision for industrial housing by the IDA is less than the amount provided in 1977; and if he will indicate the IDA's plans for the expenditure of the provision during 1978.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Housing.
9.
The IDA have responsibility for the provision of houses and/or mortgage finance for key workers and executives of industrial projects who have to be brought in from outside the areas where the projects are located and who are unable to get their requirements from the traditional sources. The allocation for this purpose for 1978 is considered adequate on the basis of the demand in 1977 and in the light of projected requirements. This allocation in fact represents a small increase on the outturn for expenditure in 1977. Most of the 1978 allocation will be spent on the provision of mortgages for a number of companies, the details of which are confidential, and the completion of a housing scheme at Ballybane, County Galway.
Is there a diminishing demand for this type of facility?
I beg the Deputy's pardon?
Can one read from the fact that the allocation for this year is less than the allocation of last year that there is a diminishing demand for this type of facility?
For the facility, yes, but one must remember exactly what the facility is. The authority's mandate is limited to the provision of houses and/or mortgages for key workers and executives of a project who have to be brought in from outside the area in which the project is located and—the important thing—who had failed to get the requirement from the traditional sources, for example local authorities, banks, building societies and so forth. The Deputy will be aware that the building societies are well placed at present to finance new houses. The Small Dwellings Acts loan has increased considerably from £4,500 to £7,000 and the bank loans scheme is being continued for this year. Therefore the IDA scheme is only a last resort, and the last resort situation will not be arising to a great extent this year. Adequate money is there.
Can the Minister say what proportion of the money this year is to be used for the Ballybane project?
That is a separate question.
It is related directly to the question.
I agree that it is a separate question.
Will the proportion be, say, 50 per cent?
The amount will be about £239,000.
Out of?
It is £750,000.
The Minister has said that there is plenty of money in the building societies but is he not aware that these institutions are talking of increasing their interest rates because of a lack of funds?
That is a separate question.
It arises from the Minister's assertion that there is plenty of money available.
I am calling the next question.
What the Minister has told the House is false but I am sure that was not intentional.
I am calling Question No. 10.
(Cavan-Monaghan): On a point of order, Deputy Mitchell's supplementary arose directly from the reply given by the Minister to another question and, consequently, it was logical for the Deputy to put such a question.
That may be so but the Deputy will appreciate that there must be a limit to the number of questions that may be asked. I consider that I am being liberal in this regard but we must take two matters into consideration. First, we must have regard to acquiring a reasonable amount of information and, secondly, we must make some progress.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I agree but I submit respectfully——
If supplementaries were to be allowed continue ad infinitum everything would become relevant.
(Cavan-Monaghan): ——that if the Minister gives an answer to a supplementary and if a Deputy considers that the information given is not accurate he has a right to query the matter.
We dealt with the question.
Assuming that the purpose of Question Time is to obtain information and that the primary function of this time is to evaluate and to make judgments on the calibre of the information given, is not the number of questions covered of minor consideration?
If the Deputy wishes to take up this matter he should refer it to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. If the Chair wished he could confine Supplementaries to one for each question but I take it that the Deputies would not agree to that either. I have made my decision and I am calling the next question.
The Chair will appreciate the difficulty in which a Deputy finds himself if the answer given by a Minister is not accurate and is not capable of being pursued.
The Chair has no control over the type of answers given.
That is clear.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am sure the Chair would not wish to have to take responsibility for the answers.