asked the Minister for Local Government if, having regard to the heavy burden facing prospective tenants of council houses in the matter of rent, he will extend the repayment period for loans for housing purposes, if necessary by the introduction of proposals for legislation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rents of Council Houses.
The repayment period for loans for housing purposes was extended from 35 years to 50 years following the extension of the subsidy period by the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1948, and I do not consider that a case exists for proposing any further extension of the loan repayment period. Further relief in respect of housing charges must be sought by the adoption of differential or graded rents and by a reduction in the capital costs of house building.
Could the Minister inform me or give me some rough idea as to the extent the average weekly rent would be affected by an extension of the period by an extra 25 years? Perhaps that is a "six mark" question.