asked the President whether his attention has been called to a statement in the Press that it is intended to introduce legislation to render the Small Dwellings Act, 1899, in conjunction with the Housing (Ireland) Act, 1919, operative, by providing the necessary powers to enable the Civic Administration to acquire capital for this purpose; and, if so, if he will state when such measure will be introduced.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SMALL DWELLINGS ACT, 1899.
The Small Dwellings Acquisition (Ireland) Acts, 1899 to 1919, as amended by the Housing Act, 1921, empower local authorities to make advances to persons for the purchase of dwellinghouses in which they reside or intend to reside, and the market values of which do not exceed £800. The advance in each case is restricted to 90 per cent. of the market value of the premises. These Acts are still operative, and no further legislation is required to enable local authorities to exercise their powers under them.
I am prepared to receive applications from local authorities for sanction to the raising of loans in the open market for the purpose of making advances under the Acts.