asked the Minister for the Environment the monitoring procedures which he has in place to ensure that new house prices are not rising to absorb the enhanced grant loans, particularly in developments where a high proportion of purchasers are availing of the grant for local authority tenants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New House Prices.
15.
Trends in house building costs and new house prices are monitored carefully in my Department. Changes in house building costs are monitored by reference to the house building cost index which is published in the Annual and Quarterly Bulletin of Housing Statistics. Information is also collected by my Department on the average gross price of new and existing dwellings in respect of which loans have been approved by the main lending agencies. I am satisfied from the information available to me and having regard to present market conditions that new house prices are not rising in the manner suggested in the question.