asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to phase out the SDA loan scheme; if so, how he intends to replace it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - SDA Loan Scheme.
17.
I have no proposals to phase out the SDA loan scheme. There is a continuing high level of demand for loans under the SDA scheme and the capital allocation of £74.5 million for 1983 will be fully expended.
Will the Minister consider a review of the income and loan limits for the SDA scheme, because they have not been changed for some time? Considering inflation and other factors, and the fact that the SDA scheme is attractive, will the Minister agree that it is time those limits were changed?
I accept the Deputy's comment that it is an attractive scheme but I am sure I do not have to remind the Deputy, a former Minister for the Environment, that the scheme is being operated in conjunction with the Housing Finance Agency. The schemes are working side by side and they seem to be meeting the demand for loans adequately.
The difficulty is that the limits have not been increased since 1981—I was the last Minister to increase the limit—and I am sure the Minister will agree that the SDA scheme is a fairer one. Will the Minister accept that he should consider raising the limits?
Given the limited level of funds available there are no proposals for increasing the limits. I should also like to point out that people who do not qualify for SDA loans may qualify for a loan from the Housing Finance Agency, which has an income limit of £10,000.
The Minister is purposely pushing people from the SDA scheme to the Housing Finance Agency.
We cannot have an argument about this.
I should like to ask the Minister if out of the £100 million he has in his programme for Government with the Fine Gael Party he will put some money into the construction industry, bearing in mind that 40 per cent of all construction workers are unemployed?
I should like to assure the Deputy that if I find any spare pennies left behind by his administration I will definitely put them into the building industry.
That smart-Alick stuff will not get the Minister anywhere; it does not help the building workers.
Facts are facts.