The introduction of this Bill becomes necessary in order to continue the work being done by private persons and public utility societies under the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1932. Under that Act the latest date for the completion of houses is the 1st April, 1935, and it is proposed to extend this to the 1st April, 1937. It is also proposed under the Bill to provide an additional sum of £700,000 for the payment of grants. The amounts of grants will remain unaltered save in the case of houses provided by private persons and public utility societies in urban areas (other than houses provided for letting by public utility societies) where the amount of the grant will be reduced from £50 to £45 after the 1st April, 1936. It is perhaps unnecessary for me to stress the advantages to be derived from continuing to encourage private persons and public utility societies to engage in the provision of houses and it is gratifying to be able to report that already these agencies have shown a willingness to undertake the provision of a greater number of houses than it was expected in 1932 they could be counted upon to undertake.
Since the Act of 1932 was passed a record has been created in house production. In all 12,397 houses have been completed being 6,693 provided by local authorities and 5,714 provided by private persons and public utility societies. Of these houses 7,548 are in urban areas and 4,849 are in rural areas. The record I refer to as having been created since the passing of the Act of 1932 is the completion during the year ended 31st March, 1934, of 6,960 houses, the largest number of houses ever completed in one year in this country.
The present Bill deals mainly with the provision of houses by private persons and public utility societies under Section 5 of the Act of 1932. The section referred to provides grants of different amounts to persons and public utility societies for the provision of houses for different classes. Paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) of the section referred to enabled the payment of grants to persons and public utility societies erecting houses in urban areas. The grants amounted to £70 per house for houses completed up to the 1st June, 1933, £60 per house for houses completed up to the 1st April, 1934, and £50 per house for houses completed up to the 1st April, 1935. To date the following is the position under this paragraph:—Public utility societies: houses completed, 435; houses in progress, 330; total, 765; private persons: houses completed, 1,837; houses in progress, 1,585; total, 3,422. Total for public utility societies and private persons: houses completed, 2,272; houses in progress, 1,915; grand total, 4,187.
Paragraph (c) enables the payment of grants to small farmers for the erection of houses for their own occupation. The grant is £70 to a farmer whose valuation does not exceed £15 and £60 to a farmer whose valuation exceeds £15 but does not exceed £25. To date the following is the position:—Farmers not exceeding £15 valuation: houses completed, 251; houses in progress, 392; total, 643; farmers over £15 and not exceeding £25 valuation: houses completed, 62; houses in progress, 60; total, 122. Totals for small farmers: houses completed, 313; houses in progress, 452; grand total, 765.
Paragraph (d) deals with the payment of grants of £70 per house to agricultural labourers in rural areas providing houses for their own occupation. To date 139 houses have been completed and 180 are in progress— making a total of 319 houses. Paragraph (e) enables the payment of grants to persons other than small farmers and agricultural labourers in rural areas. The grant is £45 per house. The position to date is:— houses completed, 940; houses in progress, 510; total, 1,450.
Paragraph (f) enables the payment of grants to public utility societies for the erection of houses for small farmers in rural areas. The grants are £80 where the farmer's valuation does not exceed £15 and £70 where the valuation exceeds £15 but does not exceed £25. The following is the position to date:— For farmers not exceeding £15 valuation: houses completed, 713; houses in progress, 1,618; total, 2,331; for farmers between £15 and £25 valuation: houses completed, 138; houses in progress, 261; total, 399. Totals for both classes: houses completed, 851; houses in progress, 1,879; grand total, 2,730.
These figures are in addition to the figures for houses erected by farmers themselves under paragraph (c) before referred to and the totals under both paragraph (c) and paragraph (f) are as follows:—for farmers not exceeding £15 valuation: houses completed, 964; houses in progress, 2,010; total, 2,974; for farmers between £15 and £25 valuation: houses completed, 200; houses in progress, 321; total, 521. Totals for both classes: houses completed, 1,164; houses in progress, 2,331; grand total, 3,495.
Paragraph (g) enables the payment of grants to public utility societies for the erection of houses in rural areas for agricultural labourers. The grant is £80 per house and to date 204 houses have been completed and 460 are in progress making a total of 664 houses which, when added to the figures of progress under paragraph (d) relating to grants paid to agricultural labourers for houses built by these persons on their own, brings the grand totals under both paragraphs to:—houses completed, 343; houses in progress, 640; total, 983.
Paragraph (h) enables the payment of grants not exceeding £40 per house to small farmers and agricultural labourers for the reconstruction of houses in their own occupation. The progress position to date is:—reconstruction by small farmers: houses completed, 666; houses in progress, 4,208; total, 4,874. Reconstruction by agricultural labourers: houses completed, 94; houses in progress, 465; total, 559. Totals for reconstruction: houses completed, 760; houses in progress, 4,673; grand total, 5,433.
Paragraph (i) enables the payment of grants to public utility societies for the erection of houses for letting in urban areas. Very little progress has been made under this paragraph but certain proposals are under consideration and it is proposed to continue the grants. To date 20 houses have been completed and 20 are in progress under this paragraph. Paragraph (j) provides for the payment of grants to local authorities and philanthropic societies for the renovation of tenements. Progress under this paragraph has been greatly delayed by the difficulties experienced by local authorities in securing suitable premises at reasonable costs. Recently one premises suitable for conversion into about eight flats has been acquired by agreement and compulsory purchase has been resorted to in a second case which was initiated as an experimental case. Now that actual work has been begun under the paragraph it is hoped to secure good results and it is proposed, therefore, to continue the grants.
Much progress has been made in connection with the housing programme in the development of building materials industries and in the short time which has elapsed since the passing of the Act of 1932 the percentage of Saorstát materials used in the provision of the average house has been increased from about 30 per cent. to 45 per cent. As the House is aware, an inquiry is at present in progress into the costs of building materials and appliances.