asked the Minister for Lands if he is now in a position to state when grants made by his Department under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts will be increased.
D'fhiafruigh
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for Housing.
Mr. Flynn
den Aire Tailte cén uair a méadófar an cúnamh airgid atá dlite faoi Achta na dTithe (Gaeltacht).
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take together questions Nos. 13 and 14. I would refer the Deputies to the replies which I gave in answer to similar questions on the 10th March and the 4th May last, when I stated that the Amendment of the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts was under consideration with a view to bringing the assistance under these Acts into line with the assistance authorised under the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948.
Mr. Flynn
Is the Minister aware that people in South Kerry have received sanction for the purpose of building houses for the past two years and that the maximum grant was £90, but they were forced, under existing circumstances, into a position where they were unable to avail of that scheme? In view of that fact, will some intimation be given to them that, pending the legislation to which he has referred, they can proceed with the work of house building before the winter months set in? Will the Minister inform them that they can undertake the work and at a later date avail of the increased grant? Could the Minister see his way, by publication or by intimating it now in his reply to me, that they can proceed with the work and still become entitled to the maximum grant which will be made under the legislation he has referred to?
Will the Minister undertake to impress on the Minister for Finance that it will be all the same to the Exchequer no matter under which Act the people will be entitled to the increased grant? What is the reason for the long delay, seeing that it will make no difference to the Exchequer?
The delay is in the framing of the new legislation. No fault can be laid at the door of the Minister for Finance. There has been no avoidable delay in the framing of the new legislation, which is not by any means an insignificant job. I can assure the House that no delay will be tolerated in the introduction of that legislation.