asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state, having regard to the recent statement by the Builders' Federation relating to the very serious state of the building industry caused by the decline in construction work, what steps the Government will take to ensure that sufficient capital is provided without delay to permit the building industry to regain its former level of operations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Capital for Building Industry.
39.
While I do not agree with some of the views expressed by the Federation in their published statement of 18th instant, I note that they say that "...If the work envisaged in the recently published estimates is put into hands in the coming financial year, public-financed work should be maintained for most sectors of the industry at a level which is reasonable in the present circumstances". I note also that in a further statement by the Federation, showing the results of a survey, covering the period January and February, 1966, carried out by them, it is stated that "... the returns disclose that the volume of work in hands has not declined as much as was anticipated".
As regards the allocation of capital for services under my control, I would point out that the budgetary provision for 1966-67 of £24 million is the highest ever made and compares with an estimated outturn of £23.27 million in the current financial year and to £18.93 million in 1964-65.
I might add that I have been informed by the principal building societies and insurance companies that they expect to advance about the same amount of capital loans for the purchase of new houses in 1966 as in 1965.
Is the Minister aware that the position in County Dublin is that fewer than half the number of private houses are being built now than last year? Furthermore, is he aware that many of the houses built within the past six months have not yet been paid for, or occupied, that the moneys allocated by him to Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council are insufficient to meet the cost of the houses already built and that nothing whatsoever has been provided to enable any more houses to be built in either Dublin city or Dublin county, other than local authority houses?
I would suggest that the Deputy should get the table of the moneys allocated under the various headings: (1) commitments; (2) new works; (3) SDA loans; (4) supplementary grants. When he has got these, he should add them together and probably his assertions as to how little or how much the local authorities in Dublin city and Dublin county are getting this year may be altered somewhat as a result of that exercise.
Having already done the work the Minister suggests, I now repeat the question: I ask the Minister to confirm or deny the assertion of the Builders' Federation that there is less than 50 per cent of the amount provided last year being provided for building this year. Does the Minister say the Federation are liars? Or are they telling the truth? It is as simple as that.
The Deputy can read the answer in which I quoted the Builders' Federation.
Question No. 40.
I am talking about March, 1966, and the Minister has been lying in this matter for the last year and he is creating wholesale unemployment in the building industry.
Take your time.
I am not taking my time. I have waited a year for this. The Minister has brought the building industry to a halt—ruin, unemployment and bankruptcy—and now the houses are not being built.
The Deputy made a statement that the Minister was lying. The Deputy will withdraw that.
I withdraw the statement and I say that the Minister is behaving in the way in which he usually behaves, but he will not behave like that for another year. The Minister's reputation is enough. It is a scandalous situation.
The Deputy should restrain himself. I am calling Question No. 40.
I will not restrain myself.
The Deputy is only doing harm.
I am not doing as much harm to the country as the Minister is doing in not providing the money.
The Deputy does not know how to behave, otherwise than in a disorderly fashion.
It is the Minister who does no know how to behave. I dare the Minister to go down to the labour exchange next week when the builders let go the few men they have left.
The Deputy is praying for the day when this calamity will come about. His knees are worn out praying for it.
(Interruptions.)
Order. I am calling Question No. 40.
Either the Deputy did not add the figures I told him to add or he cannot add. He can have it whichever way he likes.
The Minister cannot tell the truth here about loans and grants.
Can the Government do anything right? They can do nothing right.
(Cavan): The Minister for Local Government is now the Minister for Delays.
And incapable of doing anything right.