Vol. 215 No. 9
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that loans on houses have been withdrawn by building societies; and that they state that this has been done to halt the rising prices of houses; if he is satisfied that this is so; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that wage earners will not be precluded from obtaining loans to buy their own houses.
14.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that loans which were approved by building societies a year ago have, in some cases where the loan has not yet been paid, now been withdrawn; that this has caused grave hardship to purchasers who have had houses built on the strength of these loans and who are now being pressed by the builders for money; that this action on the part of the building societies means that the purchasers will now suffer the risk of losing both their deposits and the legal fees already paid by them; and what steps he will now take to safeguard the rights of such purchasers.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
I am not aware that building societies have withheld house-purchase loans from any persons in the circumstances mentioned by the Deputy. The granting of a loan by a society to any individual applicant is, of course, a matter between the parties concerned. On the general question, however, I am arranging for a discussion with the building societies.
Is the Minister aware that some building societies are taking money in at four per cent and lending to commercial finance companies at nine per cent, that this is contrary to the purposes for which building societies were established, and can he give some assurance to purchasers of houses who are now left in this predicament?
I am not aware of the predicament having arisen or of the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, but in the discussions I hope to have with the building societies in the very near future on all these general issues, I shall endeavour to find out what the position really is and to have it rectified.
Can we hope to hear further about it?
Indeed, I am sure it will be impossible to prevent the Deputy hearing about it.
Sin ceist eile.
