asked the Minister for Local Government if he is operating the control on the price of new houses introduced on 1st February 1973.
33.
Ceistéanna—Questions Oral Answers - New House Prices.
32.
asked the Minister for Local Government if the power to withold grants et cetera, under the price control order of 1st February, 1973 has been exercised; and, if so, the number of cases where it has been exercised.
34.
asked the Minister for Local Government if there have been any appeals lodged against decisions made under the House Price Control Order, 1973; and, if so, the number of appeals.
With your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 to 34 together.
The procedure for establishing reasonable value in new house prices, under section 35 of the Housing Act, 1966, is in operation.
Up to 31st May, 1973, 247 applications for certificates of reasonable value had been received in my Department. In the same period certificates had been refused in 64 cases and in those cases grants are not payable. Appeals against refusals to issue certificates were received in 46 cases.
The Minister said that there were 247 applications received in the Department up to 31st May, 1973. In the same period 64 cases were refused. The Minister did not tell us how many other decisions were made. Is the process not being halted because of requests for additional information? How many decisions in the affirmative have been given?
I will help the Deputy from my supplementary brief as far as I can. The number of applications for certificates of reasonable value up to 31st May was 247. The number of certificates issued were 90. The number of rejections were 64. The number of appeals were 46, and the number of cases at other stages of processing were 93. The figures of 46 for appeals and 93 for processes at other stages have already been included in the number of cases sanctioned, rejected or still under consideration. That is the best information I can give the Deputy.
Did the Minister say nine certificates were issued?
No, 90. The number of applications for certificates of reasonable value received up to 31st May were 247. The number of certificates issued were 90. The number of rejections were 64. The number of appeals were 46, and the number of cases at other stages of processing were 93. The figures of 46 for appeals and 93 for process at other stages have already been included in the number of cases sanctioned, rejected or still under consideration.
We cannot indulge in the luxury of repetition, even by Ministers, at Question Time. Time is too precious. Deputy R.P. Burke.
Would the Minister not agree that unless this process is speeded up considerably any hope— and it is a slim hope—of reaching 25,000 houses per year cannot be achieved? There is no hope whatever of such figures being reached.
I would not agree at all. Speeding up is proceeding at quite a good rate. As the Deputy knows, there must always be cases in the process of decision, no matter how much such processes are speeded up.