asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that an increase in the site subsidy payable to housing authorities is much less capable of inflating housing costs than housing grants and supplementary grants; if he will increase this subsidy, enable local authorities to supplement this subsidy and enable local councils to compel managers to acquire land for building sites by means of less involved procedure than a section 4 resolution.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Site Subsidies.
37.
I am not aware of any evidence to confirm the suggestion in the first part of this question and I do not propose at present to increase the site subsidy.
According to the returns submitted to my Department, local authorities were at 31st December, 1969, in possession of land for 23,000 sites, in addition to sites on which houses were being built or planned, and were in process of acquiring land for a further 12,000 sites. In these circumstances, I do not consider it necessary to introduce legislation on the lines suggested by the Deputy.