asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether the occupation or type of employment of applicants for county council cottages will be regarded as a priority consideration in the allocation of such cottages; and, if so, whether he will indicate the order of priority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allocation of County Council Cottages.
Regulations to be made under Section 35 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, will provide, in accordance with the terms of that section, that in the letting of labourers' cottages regard shall be had by county councils to the character, industry, occupation, family circumstances and existing housing conditions of all applicants and that all preferences in letting shall be subject to these considerations. It will, therefore, be open to county councils to give due weight to the occupation and type of employment of applicants in letting cottages.
Under the regulations referred to is it not the position that farm labourers, in the strict meaning of the word, are supposed to receive certain priority considerations and would the Minister state when these regulations will be implemented?
Draft regulations dealing with local authority houses are at present being drawn up for final examination before being submitted to the Minister. In relation to the letting of labourers' cottages, this is governed generally by Section 35 of the 1948 Act.