asked the Minister for Local Government when loans for private house building will be freely available from Government sources.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Private House Building Loans.
8.
More money is being provided in the current financial year from the Local Loans Fund for the making, by housing authorities, of house purchase loans than ever before. As I stated in my Estimate speech I have asked housing authorities for up-to-date particulars of the level of their commitments and expenditure this year. From the returns now being submitted to me by these authorities, it would appear that, generally, they are accepting new applications for such loans. In some cases housing authorities are adopting an unnecessarily rigid attitude and I am having the position in these cases specially reviewed.
The Minister has not stated when money will be freely available.
The Minister cannot very well make it any more clear than he has as to what the present situation is. I do not think it can be deduced from that reply that these loans are not available at the moment.
The Minister is aware that they are not available at the moment.
I am not.
(Cavan): Is the Minister saying that housing loans are freely available at the present time in each county in Ireland?
I did not say "freely".
(Cavan): Does the Minister say housing loans are available in every county in Ireland at the present time to those who qualify to receive them?
Generally.
(Cavan): Will the Minister accept it as a fact that the loans are not available in County Cavan to those entitled and qualified to receive them?
They are not available in County Monaghan.
Or in County Louth.
Or County Dublin.
Is the Minister aware that Dublin Corporation are not able to meet any commitments made after 28th January, 1966?
In so far as the position in individual counties is concerned, if we want to have this matter debated and questioned in the House, it would be advisable if the question were so framed as to enable the House to do so, and I might have the overall information and details required.
It is quite clear that money is not freely available.
Money was never freely available for anything.
Not recently.
Nor at any time I am aware of.
(Cavan): Since the Dáil resumed, I asked the Minister a question regarding the position in Cavan and he told me that money would be available shortly but there is no sign of it. Surely the Minister is aware that money is not available?
I am not aware of that.
(Cavan): I suggest the Minister should make inquiries.
When is "shortly"?