asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state what regulation prevents sub-tenants of corporation houses, living in overcrowded conditions, being considered for tenancies of houses being built by the Dublin Corporation, and if he will arrange to have this regulation rescinded so that such sub-tenants with large families may be eligible for tenancies of Dublin Corporation houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sub-Tenants of Corporation Houses.
I am not aware of any regulation to the effect mentioned, but as the letting agreements with the corporation prohibit subletting, the corporation cannot be held responsible for overcrowding when the terms of the agreements are departed from without their consent. In the allocation of new tenancies the corporation is bound by Section 29 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, in which classes of priorities are prescribed. The question of providing accommodation for slum-dwellers and cases of tuberculosis in the corporation's present programme is of paramount importance, and it is therefore, in the public interest that there should be strict adherence to the existing order of priorities.
Is the Minister aware that, in a great many of these cases, the people are not sub-tenants but are married members of the families? As the families of corporation tenants grow up, marry and set up families, they are forced to remain in these houses and thus overcrowding has now become a very serious problem. Would the Minister not arrange to have the regulations amended by the corporation so that the corporation can deal with those cases?
I would be glad if the Deputy would give me some notice of the point, as I am not fully conversant with the subject matter at the moment.