asked the Minister for Local Government whether he approves of the action of Dublin Corporation in advising transferees from newly-wed type houses to permanent addresses that rents are liable to be increased by substantial amounts; and if he has sanctioned these increases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation Rents.
45.
I recently approved interim proposals submitted by the corporation for new differential rent scales to apply to tenants who are appointed for the first time on or after 28th February, 1966, or who move on or after that date to vacant dwellings in the corporation's estate which were first let since 1932. Tenants of reserved houses who transfer to non-reserved houses come within the scope of the new scale, which provide for the payment of increased rents by the betteroff families, and reduced rents by the families in the lower income group.
Does the Minister consider it equitable there should be an increase of rent, to the extent in some cases of 30/- per week, in transfers of this kind? Is he further aware that some of these tenants have been in occupation of the newly-wed type of houses for as long as five and six years, if not longer, and does he not consider that this revolutionary increase in rent of up to 30/- per week will work a great hardship on these families? In the light of these facts, would he not have a look at the scheme with a view to ensuring that such hardship will be lessened as much as possible?
The point about it is that, by and large, these schemes are sent to me for approval. They are prepared by the corporation. Unless I can find particular objection to them, I do not normally go back and say to the corporation that I do not like this, or that they should not do that, because, in a general way, if they conform to the general pattern of things, they are in most cases in a better position in their own housing area to work out the details, and what might appear to me to be unreasonable might, in fact, for their own specific reasons, be quite reasonable in the particular housing authority area. It is very difficult to say to the corporation that I know better and that something seems to be unreasonable and they should not do it. The other point is that nobody wants his rent increased, but, side by side with that, these increases, as I understand them, are in all cases related to the income of the household concerned. It is not just a matter of increasing the rent because a tenant has changed from one house to another. Under the differential system, rents are related to income.
That is the theory but it does not, in fact, work out that way in practice. There is, indeed, grave hardship caused by the method in which Dublin Corporation is implementing this scheme.
Is the Minister aware that newly-weds who accepted offers of accommodation in January of this year now find themselves with the new rent on their hands because of the fact that the corporation were not ready to give them the houses and others who got houses at that time have also had the new rents imposed on them?
It is not the fault of these people that they do not have houses.
Deputies will appreciate with regard to this sort of detail in a general scheme, it would be very difficult for me to start messing about with it because, if I did so, I might cause damage in another direction. Why should the corporation have sent this on to me? Having considered it and reached the decision that they did, they sent the scheme on to me for approval.
Dublin Corporation never approved of this new rent scheme. It was put to them by the Manager but they never approved of it. It is not their scheme. It is a managerial and ministerial scheme foisted on the corporation by the Manager and not approved of by them.
Deputy Ryan does not have to come into this House and tell members of local authorities what the managerial functions are. His display of knowledge does not impress anyone. Does the Deputy oppose lower rents?
It is time you learned to tell the truth. You have not told it for the past 12 months.
As the questioner of the first part, I am trying to get from the Minister as quietly as possible an assurance that he will have another look at this matter.
If I had not been interrupted in my train of thought, I was about to tell the Deputy that I would do so.