asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that considerable hardship has resulted by reason of the conservative valuations made under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act by the local authorities' valuers; if he appreciates that the purpose of the Act is being defeated to a large extent because of these restricted valuations and if he is prepared to nominate independent valuers to whom appeals can be made when applicants for loans are dissatisfied with the valuations of the local authorities' valuers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Small Dwellings Acquisition Act.
Mr. Murphy
As I have explained in reply to previous questions on the 14th December and the 9th March last, the assessment of the market value of a house for the purpose of determining the amount of the loan which may be advanced therefor under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts is a function of the responsible housing authority and is not subject to any statutory review by me.
The local housing authorities are obliged to take all reasonable and necessary measures to safeguard the funds which they have to provide for this service. Subject to their obligations in this respect, I am sure that any representations that may be made to them by the intending borrowers will be sympathetically considered. As I have already stated on previous occasions, these difficulties will not be completely resolved until builders' prices are brought into closer relationship with current market values.