asked the Minister for Lands the number of families residing on Inishturbot, Clifden, County Galway; and the number who have received special housing assistance to enable them to transfer to the mainland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Island Housing Assistance.
21.
(Cavan): As far as the Land Commission are aware there are 16 families on Turbot Island. To date, none of them has availed of the special housing assistance which the Land Commission are providing to enable them to transfer to the mainland.
Does the Minister agree that the fact that none of the islanders has availed of the scheme is indicative of the inadequacy of the amounts being offered? The increases in costs since these figures were estimated originally have thrown the scheme out of balance and they are now of no real significance to aid the islanders to settle on the mainland. I should appeal to the Minister to increase the grants substantially.
(Cavan): I would not agree with the Deputy's suggestion that the grants are inadequate and that that is why they are not being availed of. I say that for two reasons. There is a free grant of £450 for the site, there is a free grant of £1,800 for the dwelling house and there are grants available from local authorities of £900, making a total of £3,150. In addition, there is a repayable grant of £750 and a grant for out-offices of £450. It would appear that the scheme has been quite a success on the island of Inishturk where five out of the seven families are making arrangements to avail of the assistance.
Will the Minister not agree that the average cost of building a house on the Connemara mainland runs from £6,000 to £7,000 and that it is because of this that the islanders in Inishturbot have been unable to avail of this?
(Cavan): I am not so aware. All these matters were taken into account when the ceiling of the grants and loans was being decided on.
These figures were estimated in 1962.
(Cavan): I think it was more recent than that, and the Deputy must take his share of the responsibility.
The costs have risen out of all proportion. The Minister does not want to help the people of Inishturbot.
Will the Deputy please allow questions to proceed in an orderly fashion?
(Cavan): I am extremely anxious to help those people. The people on the other island seem to be quite happy.
There are different circumstances.
Would Deputy Molloy please desist from interrupting?