asked the Minister for Local Government if he is prepared to intimate to housing authorities that the full 66? per cent. subsidy on new houses will be paid where such houses are used to relieve overcrowding in council houses caused by the marriage of a member of the tenant's family.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Subsidy on New Houses.
53.
I have already explained fully in replies to previous Parliamentary Questions the position regarding the payment of subsidy in respect of such rehousing. I would refer the Deputy to my reply in the matter on March 1st last to Deputy P.J. Burke, and to supplementary questions asked by the Deputy on that occasion.
It is true that the Minister has explained the position in this matter, but does he not consider it a severe hardship that newly married couples who are living with their in-laws, should be rendered ineligible for local authority houses carrying a subsidy of 66?? Does the Minister not appreciate that these newly married couples have no option but to go and live with their in-laws? The Minister must be aware that this is a big problem throughout the country and one which imposes a severe hardship on young newly married couples.
I certainly have sympathy with the people described by the Deputy. On the other hand, there are other sections of the community with whom I have very great sympathy also. I have to have regard to the needs of these other sections. That is not to say that consideration is not given to the position of these people to whom the Deputy refers. I admit that up to the present that consideration has not led to any real results, but I certainly sympathise with them. Because these other sections are in such great need, I cannot promise anything.
I do not want any priority to be given to these. I merely ask the Minister to have their applications considered in the ordinary way. I do not want to enter into an argument with the Minister now, but would the Minister be prepared to receive a small deputation of members of this House who are also members of local authorities? I ask, at any rate, on behalf of my group because we feel very strongly about this and we believe a discussion with the Minister might result in a little more progress than one gets by way of question and answer here.
Without intending any discourtesy, I am inclined to say I am not prepared to receive such a deputation at the moment. Consideration is being given to this particular aspect of the housing problem, but there are other aspects which are more urgent. I doubt whether a deputation from one Party, or from all Parties in the House, would add anything to the material necessary for full consideration to be given to the matter. We have all the pros and cons from the various members of the House. We have all the information from the debates and from question and answer. If there are particular aspects that the Deputy thinks have not been properly brought to light, or sufficiently considered, or if there is any particular proposal he, or any other Deputy, may have to make I shall certainly be glad to have that and to examine it in order to discover whether or not it holds out any promise.
I must confess I did not hear the Minister say the matter was being considered. If that is so, that obviates any necessity for a deputation because the Minister has all the information. I merely appeal to the Minister to give the matter urgent consideration.