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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Oct 1922

Vol. 1 No. 23

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - ATHLONE HOUSING SCHEME.

SEAN O LAIDHIN

To ask the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the scheme under the Labourers Acts undertaken by the Athlone No. 1 Rural District Council in April, 1914, was to comprise 37 houses, of which 14 were built at an average cost of £145, and three were abandoned, thus leaving 20 houses to be built; and whether, seeing that the average cost of erecting a cottage now is about £450 (more than three times the cost of 1914), and that of the loan granted under the Act for the project—viz., £6,290—the amount received was £2,850, thus leaving £3,440 due, he will see that the extra money required to meet the increased cost in building in addition to this £3,440, will be granted to enable the Council to complete their scheme; and, further, if the Minister is in a position to state when the money will be forthcoming.

Mr. E. BLYTHE

The facts are correctly stated in the first part of the question. The average cost of building compared with 1914, as presumed in the question, is possibly correct, having regard to the high prevailing costs of which we have actual experience in the cases of State-aided urban housing schemes. Correspondence is proceeding with the British Government with the object of securing that advances for the purposes of the Labourers Acts may be resumed where loans had been sanctioned but not fully issued by the British Government. Heretofore advances from Land Purchase Funds were confined within prescribed limits per cottage, the most recent limit being three-quarters of the cost. It is doubtful to what extent, if any, it may be possible to issue supplemental loans from Irish Government Funds to meet extra building costs in view of the depreciation in Land Stock generally and the heavy financial liabilities of the Government. The Government's policy as regards the resumption of rural housing is receiving consideration.

SEAN O LAIDHIN

Is the Minister in a position to say when the finance will be forthcoming?

Mr. E. BLYTHE

I could not say precisely. Everything is being done to expedite it.

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