asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider extending the period of repayments for house mortgages to 50 or 75 years so as to alleviate the hardship caused by heavy repayments.
Written Answers. - House Mortgages.
378.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the house purchase loans made under schemes administered by local authorities under regulations made by my Department. I do not consider that the extension of the loan repayment period from the present maximum of 30 to 50 or 75 years would be justified having regard to the relatively small reduction in the monthly repayment which it would cause and the substantial increase in the total amount repayable over the period which would ensue.