asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the increased cost of building, he will make an Order increasing to £2,500 the limit on market value of houses in respect of which loans may be made by local authorities under the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Acts.
I have no evidence of any general demand for an increase in the present limit of £2,000 on the market value of houses in respect of which advances may be made under the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Acts. I understand that, in fact, the amounts of the advances permissible within the present limit seldom attain the maximum figures and that the necessity for refusing loans to applicants by reason of excessive market value seldom arises.
In view of the fact that building costs have gone up by approximately 20 per cent., does the Minister think that his reply is reasonable?
My attention has been drawn to what I know to be a fact and what the Deputy has now stated. But strange to say, the matter, to whatever extent it has been raised with me, has been raised by builders. The Deputy will appreciate the importance of endeavouring to keep the limit down in order to serve an important purpose from the public point of view.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider an increase in the local government subsidy, in view of the demand for new houses and the greatly increased cost of building materials.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on the 10th of this month to a similar question by Deputy Dunne.