Vol. 328 No. 9
asked the Minister for the Environment the reason details of the recent changes in house purchase schemes announced by him have not yet been communicated to local authorities; when he proposes to let the local authorities and the public have full details of these schemes; and if he will make a statement in the matter.
415.
asked the Minister for the Environment when local authorities can expect to receive details of the changes in new house grants etc. recently announced by him.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 414 and 415 together.
The changes in house purchase schemes which I announced on 10 April 1981 are part of a wide-ranging package of housing initiatives which I have taken. In addition to house purchase, the Housing Package 1981 embraces the local authority house improvement loan scheme, the local authority housing programme, a scheme for financing improvement works to rented local authority houses, tax allowances for the provision of rented residential accommodation, increased financial assistance for voluntary housing bodies, improvements in certain housing grant schemes and the establishment of housing information centres. A summary of the main features of the package was set out in a prominent advertisement published in the national daily newspapers on 16 April. An explanatory leaflet on the special mortgage subsidy scheme was also available to the public on that day. A comprehensive circular letter giving detailed particulars of all aspects of the package will be issued to local housing authorities and recognised voluntary housing bodies within the next few days.
