asked the Minister for Local Government if a woman (name supplied) who has an assessable income of £3 per week can be asked to pay a rent of £1 19s 1d per week for local authority accommodation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Rents.
40.
No. The person referred to by the Deputy would have an actual weekly income of about £7 10s, on which the differential rent for a modern dwelling, costing about £6 a week to provide, would be 10/- a week approximately. In addition, increases in rates since 1964-65 and a charge for heating, if it is supplied, would be payable.
The management and control of individual dwellings in their housing estate is, by law, primarily a matter for the local authority. The local authority concerned has drafted a scheme for the relief of rates in "hardship" cases. A rated occupier of a private house or a tenant of a local authority dwelling can apply for relief under the scheme.
It is an unfortunate feature of the Dublin Corporation differential rent scheme that it does not include a "hardship" provision on the lines recommended in my Department's circular letter of 20th February last. It is to be hoped that this case will indicate to the corporation the need for a revision of their rent schemes in accordance with that circular.
Is the Minister aware that the name and address of the woman were supplied, and that her income was supplied? The total amount which she received was £6 per week in home assistance money and, with all allowances, her assessable income was £3 a week, and the rent she had to pay was £1 19s 1d a week. Would the Minister investigate this further?
The rent chargeable is 10/- per week. The total income I gave of £7 10s is £6 plus children's allowances. The Deputy is right in that the actual income is £6 a week but when children's allowances, which are paid monthly, are taken into account it is £7 10s.
When the Minister says he hopes this will indicate to the corporation the need for a revision of their schemes, to whom exactly is he referring? Is it the commissioner?
No, the corporation.
Which corporation?
Dublin Corporation.
Is the Minister going to reinstate the corporation?
When the Minister refers to the corporation who does he mean at this stage?
Dublin Corporation. The local authority.
There is no local authority.
Question No. 41.
The Minister must be reading "Ulysses".