asked the Minister for Local Government the local authority areas in which loans are advanced for the purchase of second-hand houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Loans.
11.
Loans for the purchase of previously occupied houses are advanced by the County Councils of Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary (S.R.), Waterford, Westmeath and Wicklow, the Corporations of Dublin, Waterford and Wexford and Dundalk Urban District Council.
Is the Minister aware that applicants who have gone to the local authorities seeking loans to enable them to purchase secondhand houses have been refused?
I am not so aware. If they bring the matter to my notice I will look after it. Obviously Deputy Molloy has not been able to do anything.
Is the Minister aware that the information he has given to me now is contrary to the information given to me by the local authority in Galway city who have included in their scheme the debarring of loans on secondhand houses?
Would Deputy Molloy take the matter up with Galway Corporation?
The Minister should be concerned that the information he has received from the local authorities is misleading and is not accurate. There are a number of applicants suffering very severe financial hardship because of the non-availability of loans for the purchase of secondhand houses.
I have sympathy with Deputy Molloy but I can only give him the information which is correct. If he got incorrect information from his own corporation I suggest he should take it up with them.
Question No. 12.
The Minister does not know.
I do know but Deputy Molloy does not know. He does not know what is happening in his own corporation.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
The Minister has accused me of not knowing what is the position in Galway Corporation. I am asking the Minister to check on the information given in his reply because the information there does not correspond with the situation, as I was informed by the officials in Galway Corporation. Is the Minister aware that applicants who have sought secondhand house loans from Galway Corporation have been given forms and conditions which include the prohibition of loans for second-hand houses?
I am not so aware. Deputy Molloy made a statement to the effect that I had incorrectly stated that such loans were available previously and I am now giving him the full information to prove that, in fact, he did not know what the facts were.
Is the Minister aware of a circular from his Department to all local authorities stating that it is only in exceptional circumstances that secondhand houses will be financed?
If they cannot get alternative loans, that is right. If they cannot get alternative loans—these are the people Deputy Molloy is talking about—then they can get the money from the local authorities.
Local authorities have refused it.
Then we will have to change the local authorities.
Will the Minister change his circular?
Could the Minister give us the percentage roughly or has he any idea of the amount of loans for the financing of secondhand houses?
I do not think I could give that just now. If the Deputy likes to put down a question I will endeavour to get the information.
Question No. 12.
Could the Minister say if the amount is large or small?
I would not know because what I have got is the people who are in fact paying out under the scheme.
I have called Question No. 12.
Is it as high as 5 per cent?
I have called Question No. 12. I have allowed a great deal of latitude on this question.
May I ask the Minister if anybody seeking a loan to purchase a secondhand house can now have it from the local authority?
No, the Deputy may not take any such thing and Deputy Molloy is aware of the contents of the circular and he will not trick me into making a statement of that kind. He knows quite well what the terms are and, under those terms, the people who need a loan and cannot get it elsewhere can, in fact, get such a loan now for this type of dwelling.
Only in exceptional circumstances.
The Chair has called Question No. 12 on a number of occasions and the Chair expects to be obeyed.