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Dáil Éireann - Volume 273 - 11 June, 1974

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Statistics.

17. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Local Government the number of [761] new houses for which loans were paid by local authorities in April, 1974.

Mr. Tully: This information is not available in my Department.

Mr. Molloy: Is the Minister saying the information will not be available?

Mr. Tully: No. I said “It is not available”.

Mr. Molloy: Will it be available?

Mr. Tully: Since the statistics are usually published, it will be available at a later date.

Mr. Molloy: The figures are not available now?

Mr. Tully: They are not given on a monthly basis.

Mr. Molloy: Will they be made available?

Mr. Tully: Of course they will. Are they not always made available?

Mr. Dowling: After the elections.

18. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Local Government the number of dwellings completed with grants from his Department in April, 1974.

Mr. Tully: The number was 1,086.

19. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Local Government the number of dwellings for which grants were allocated by his Department in April, 1974.

Mr. Tully: The number was 1,741.

20. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to an article published recently (details supplied) regarding the effect on employment of difficulties in connection with home loans; and if he will make a statement in the matter.

Mr. Tully: I have seen the article to which the Deputy refers. Mainly because of the special subsidy to the building societies which the Government introduced in May, 1973 and the unprecedented expansion which has taken place in expenditure on the local authority loans scheme and on local authority housing, the number [762] of houses completed in 1973-74 exceeded 25,000. Statistics of the number of loans approved for new houses, which grew from 13,706 in 1972-73 to 16,477 in 1973-74, and of the number of new house grant instalments paid, which increased from 13,621 in 1972-73 to 14,596 in 1973-74, suggest that the target figure of 25,000 houses will again be reached in the current year.

I am keeping the position in relation to the supply of mortgage finance under close review.

Mr. Molloy: Does the Minister not consider that the information he has given is totally irrelevant to the question I put? Is he in any way concerned at the threat to employment in the construction industry which has been referred to by the federation spokesman?

Mr. Tully: Deputy Molloy and the same federation spokesman made the same type of threat last October, November and December. They were wrong and I suggest they are wrong again this time.

Mr. Molloy: Arising out of the Minister's reply, which one can treat with contempt, is he aware that following the statements made by me and the spokesman in question as well as others, the Government assisted with a £6 million intervention to the building societies through the banks and that that saved the day on that occasion? Are there any proposals now to save the deteriorating situation in regard to home loans which are just not available?

Mr. Tully: May I repeat the last few words in my statement? “I am keeping the position in relation to the supply of mortgage finance under close review.”

Mr. Molloy: The Minister is then admitting——

An Ceann Comhairle: This is Question Time. We cannot have statements.

Mr. Molloy: Will I be allowed to ask the Minister if he has any proposals to help those who cannot get home loans——

[763] Mr. Tully: May I say to Deputy Molloy that last year he tried to wreck the housing programme and he did not succeed? Neither will he succeed this year.

Mr. Colley: The Minister has not answered the question.

Mr. Tully: Why should I answer——

Mr. Colley: That is what the Minister is there for; that is what he is paid for.

Mr. Tully: Despite the shouts from the Opposition Front Bench——

Mr. Molloy: Nobody is shouting.

Mr. Tully: ——I answer the questions that are put to me. On this occasion I have done so. All the shouting coming from the Opposition Front Bench will not alter the fact that we got 25,000 plus houses built last year and we will get it again this year, not with their co-operation but, if they like, despite it.

Mr. Molloy: There is nobody living in the houses — they cannot get loans.

Mr. Colley: A question was put to the Minister which he did not reply to.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair has no control over that.

Mr. Molloy: Because the Minister's answer is totally inadequate, and in view of the serious situation now facing the country in this respect, I wish to give notice that I intend to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of this question.

An Ceann Comhairle: I will communicate with the Deputy.

21. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding each local authority housing scheme approved by his Department since 14th March, 1973.

Mr. Tully: This information is not available in my Department.

22. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Local Government the number of prefabricated/demountable dwellings and caravans or mobile homes provided by local authorities in 1973-74.

[764] Mr. Tully: The number was 367.

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