asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will take steps to ensure that houses to be erected by the Dublin Corporation in the Howth and Sutton area will be made available for tenancy to families who resided in the locality during the past five years, and whether he will seek an assurance from the corporation that other prospective tenants will not be considered until the housing needs of the Howth and Sutton area are fully satisfied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Howth and Sutton Housing.
The allocation of the houses referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the Dublin Corporation, who, in selecting tenants, must have regard to the statutory preferences laid down in the Housing (Loan Charges Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations, 1938. The regulations do not provide for a residence qualification and there are no steps, therefore, which I could usefully take in the matter to meet the Deputy's wishes.
At the same time the Deputy may take it that local authorities, in general, interpret the regulations with discretion and he may rest assured that in selecting tenants for the houses in Howth the corporation will, as far as may be practicable, give a preference to such applicants from the locality as are eligible within the letting regulations.