asked the Minister for Local Government why he has refused to assist local authorities in making housing grants available to small farmers under the provisions of Section 7 of the Housing Act, 1950.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Grants to Small Farmers.
Mr. O'Higgins
Section 7 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1950, contains no provision for assistance by the Minister for Local Government to local authorities in making housing grants available to small farmers.
Mr. O'Higgins
Is the Minister aware that a number of local authorities, acting in the belief and faith that the inter-Party Government would remain in power, made provision for such grants and will he state now why that policy has been changed?
The Minister is aware that Section 7 was introduced into the Housing Act of 1950. He is further aware that it gave to local bodies power to prepare schemes. He is also aware that his predecessor sanctioned these schemes without knowing in what way the local body proposed to finance them.