asked the Minister for Local Government the counties that have applied for permission to borrow money to repair labourers' cottages; the amount that has been applied for in each county; whether sanction has been given; and, if so, on what dates.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Repair of Labourers' Cottages.
13.
Six county councils submitted applications to my Department for approval to the raising of loans in the current financial year for pre-vesting repairs to council cottages. In view of the desirability of using available capital for the erection of houses for those who need them, the councils have been notified that I was not disposed to approve of applications for permission to borrow the cost of cottage repairs, which is properly a charge on current revenue and for which most authorities provide in their current budget.
Particulars of the names of the county councils and the amounts of the loans involved are set out in a tabular statement, which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
County Council |
Amount of Loan |
|
£ |
|
|
Cork: |
|
|
North |
20,000 |
|
South |
45,000 |
|
Laois |
15,000 |
|
Longford |
8,000 |
|
Westmeath |
2,000 |
|
Wexford |
20,000 |
Does the Minister not realise that in many counties there is a backlog of work in repairing cottages awaiting investment. They were let into disrepair during the war years and it was not possible to repair them quickly enough. That means it is impossible to meet this backlog and there is a necessity for borrowing capital sums. This is the case in my county. I am the chairman of the county council there and I know.
This is obviously and properly a charge on current revenue and if some local authorities will not face up to responsibilities in this and get away with it there would seem to be no reason why others should not follow suit and further prevent the solution to this problem. It is essential to use all available capital for the building of new houses for people who need them.
If you give us the money, we will build them.
There are only five counties involved here.
Would it be not correct to say that a great deal of this backlog has been created because certain members of certain local authorities refused to provide the money in the past 20 years?
I am not aware there is a backlog. If there is in some counties and not in others, it should not be there.
It is in every county.
Question No. 14.