asked the Minister for the Environment in reference to the recent circular issued by his Department regarding new house loan limits if it is his intention to discontinue provision of loans for the purchase of sites by members of registered housing co-operative societies.
Written Answers. - Site Purchase Loans.
22.
There is no question of discontinuing the provision by local authorities of loans for the purchase of sites by members of registered housing co-operatives or indeed by any other eligible applicants. Section 39 of the Housing Act, 1966, enables local authorities to advance a loan to a person for the purpose of acquiring or constructing a private house and such loans may include site costs.
The recent circular issued to local authorities by my Department, to which the Deputy refers, notified them of certain improvements in their housing loan schemes including, inter alia, the increase from £9,000 to £12,000 in the amount which they may advance as well as an increase from £4,000 to £5,000 in the annual income eligibility limit. I emphasise, therefore, that purchasers of local authority sites are entitled to have the cost of the sites included in their housing loans provided the total amount advanced in this way does not exceed the maximum limit of £12,000 permitted by the statutory regulations.