asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the Dublin County Council advance about £1 million a year to about 500-600 borrowers under the Small Dwellings Acts; that 98 per cent of the advances create new ground rent interests, because that housing authority seem to have no building sites to offer to borrowers; and that many thousands of persons have had to pay ground rents, because the County Council operate a housing policy which encourages the growth of landlordism; if the County Council are acting in a proper manner if advances under the Small Dwellings Acts are made in a manner that, in effect, compels borrowers to sign an agreement to pay ground rent in order to secure a housing loan; and if he will take steps to prevent local authorities from actively encouraging the extension of ground landlordism under the protection of public funds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - SDA Advances in Dublin County
The administration of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts is a function of each housing authority concerned subject to the relevant statutory provisions. I am aware that in administering the Acts the Dublin County Council does not make advances in respect of houses having a ground rent in excess of £10 a year. The purpose of this restriction is to discourage speculative dealings in building sites. While I would be most anxious that the Council should avail of their powers to provide sites for private building I would not be justified in taking any steps which would deter persons from providing their own housing accommodation otherwise.
If a local authority decide to acquire land for this type of SDA building, must they produce concrete evidence in advance of a demand for housing on a site?
Surely that is a general question.
To my mind, it is completely irrelevant, but if the county council in question have any thought of doing any such thing, I should be very glad to hear of it.
The county council have such a thought but we have been informed by the county manager we must produce evidence of demand.
Let the county council produce it and we shall see.
Would the Minister say whether, if ground rents were done away with, it would mean an increase in the cost of housing, an increase in the amount of deposit and whether it would make it impossible for those people to meet their commitments in regard to the purchase of these houses?
Each case must be considered alone.
Am I to take it now that Deputy Lemass is in favour of encouraging even more ground landlords in this country?
It is only commonsense——
Fianna Fáil commonsense.
It has stood the test of time.
The old landlordism again.