I wish to raise a point in connection with (b) of paragraph (1) of this section—"In the case of an improving grant—£80." I fail to see the necessity for such a sub-section in this Bill. Provision is made in the Local Government Housing Act for the exact sum of £80, improvement grant. I think that quite a number of Senators were probably misled by the definition of the Bill—Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Bill, 1949. They probably thought that it only referred to particular areas such as Connemara. That is not so. The Schedule to the 1929 Act covers practically the whole of County Galway, the whole of County Kerry, parts of Waterford, Cavan, Donegal and, in fact, quite a large part of the country. Further, in the greater part of the districts scheduled under the 1929 Act, the Local Government Housing Act is also in operation. If it is felt that, in connection with the giving of assistance in the case of the erection of a new house or the improvement of an existing house, it is a good thing to give an additional grant to persons living in the Gaeltacht district then I hold that that principle should also apply in relation to improvements.
We have already increased the grants for the building of houses in these particular districts while we have left on a par the improvement grant. I suggest the Minister should avail of the opportunity, now that the Bill is before this House, of amending this section so that those people in those districts who are prepared to improve their existing dwellings may get something in addition to what they would get if they made application for the ordinary Local Government Housing Grant.