asked the Minister for Local Government if, in the case of a person in County Laois (name supplied), he will state why a grant for which application was made in 1968 in respect of a newly erected house has not been paid; and if he will arrange for payment without further delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Loans and Grants.
139.
The only application recorded in the Department from the person named was received on 7th May, 1974. The applicant was requested on 15th May, 1974, to submit house and site plans, specification, planning permission and the requisite fee, but to date these have not been received. As the house is said to have been completed in 1968, the Minister arranged for an early inspection with a view to the allocation and payment of a new house grant, if in order.
140.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of final payments of local government house grants made in 1973-74 in respect of amounts of less than £50.
This information is not readily available in the Department.
The compilation of the details would make undue demands on staff time, involving expenditure out of relationship to the value of the information sought.
141.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of final payments of local government new house grants made in 1973-74.
142.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of first part payments in respect of local government new house grants made in 1973-74.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
The number of final payments of new house grants by the Department in 1973-74 was 17,380. This figure excludes 1,732 grants for local authority purchase-type houses.
The number of instalments of new house grants paid by the Department in 1973-74 was 14,596. This figure includes some instalments of grants paid for local authority purchase-type houses. Separate figures for these instalments are not, however, available.
143.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of loans approved by the building societies in 1972-73 and in 1973-74.
144.
asked the Minister for Local Government the value of the loans approved by the building societies in 1972-73 and in 1973-74.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.
In 1972-73 building societies approved 12,335 loans with a total value of £66,170,000. The corresponding figures for 1973-74 were 6,897 and £37,593,000 respectively.
The Deputy will no doubt be aware from the Quarterly Bulletins of Housing Statistics published by the Department, copies of which are sent to the Deputy, that the total number and value of loan approvals by the three principal lending agencies—building societies, assurance companies and local authorities—in 1973-74, at 20,488 and £92,802,000 respectively, were higher than the corresponding figures for 1972-73, 19,591 and £90,913,000. In the case of loans for new houses, approvals increased from 13,706 houses and £63,456,000 in 1972-73 to 16,477 houses and £74,581,000 in 1973-74.