asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that portion of the cost-of-living bonus awarded to workers who are tenants of corporation houses at Gurranebraher and Spangle Hill, Cork, was taken by the Cork City Manager in increased rents, and if he will state what steps, if any, have been taken to ensure that portion of the children's allowance payable will not be taken for the same purpose; and if he will consider amending Emergency Powers No. 313 Order, 1944, if necessary, to ensure that these allowances will not be reckoned for the purpose of rent assessment in such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rents of Cork Corporation Houses.
I would remind the Deputy of the reply given to his question of the 7th July last and would point out that the rent of houses let on a differential rent basis is fixed at one-sixth of the family income, modified to the benefit and advantage of the tenant in a number of ways. For instance, in calculating the family income any emergency bonus or increase of wages not exceeding 8/- per week payable to the principal bread-winner is disregarded, and the income is also held to be reduced by 1/- per week in respect of each child under 16 years of age for whose support he is deemed to be responsible. The income of any other person resident in the house is reduced by 5/- per week, and after this the excess over 45/- of the amount so reduced is ignored in calculating the family income.
I understand that the city manager, in lieu of the allowance hitherto made in respect of dependent children, proposes to omit altogether the increased income of tenants due to the operation of the Children's Allowances Act, 1944.
Is the Minister satisfied that the city manager is not going to extract any of the half-crowns from the income of these people?
I have nothing further to add, Sir, to the very full answer I have given to the Deputy.