asked the Minister for Local Government if it is proposed to increase Government housing subsidies to local authorities following his new proposals on the differential rents scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Differential Rents.
113.
Yes. In accordance with the Government's decision of the 29th March last regarding the transfer from local to central taxation of that portion of the cost of health services and housing subsidies at present borne by local rates, the Exchequer in 1973-74 will bear the full increase in the cost of these services over the cost in 1972-73 in addition to the equivalent of 25 per cent of the rate levied in 1972-73 for these services. The additional cost in local authority housing subsidies arising from the implementation of the new national differential rent scheme represents part of the increase in 1973-74 in the cost of these services and as such will be borne in full by the Exchequer.
Could the Minister for Local Government tell us if the provision for this expenditure was made in the Estimate for his Department, and, if not, will it involve a supplementary estimate this year?
Provision was not made, and it will almost certainly involve a Supplementary Estimate.
114.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will as an essential follow-up to his recent proposals on differential rents, ensure that all differential rent schemes provide a fully comprehensive scale of rents ranging from full economic down to zero.
The new national differential rent scheme which I introduced from 1st July, 1973, provides, in effect, for a scale of rents ranging from zero to the maximum rents which applied at that date.
Will the Minister take steps to ensure that zero renting will, in fact, be incorporated in every scheme which, according to his recent announcement, he is now supporting by way of additional subsidies to local authorities?
Such instructions have already been issued to local authorities.
The Minister has mentioned national differential rent schemes. Are we to take it that it will be a uniformly applied scheme in all local authorities?
Yes.