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Dáil Éireann - Volume 351 - 19 June, 1984

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Finance Agency.

20. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for the Environment the reason the Housing Finance Agency are now informing some applicants that the 1984 funds have to be limited relative to the needs and for the most part conserved to cater for urgent cases only; if he has directed that single persons are to be refused loans on these grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. F. O'Brien: An allocation of £63 million has been made to the Housing Finance Agency for the payment of loans in 1984 compared with £55 million advanced in 1983. I understand that the agency have not imposed restrictions on the approval or payment of loans or on the category of persons qualifying for loans; neither has any direction of this kind regarding single persons or otherwise been issued by me. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is necessary for the agency in the interests of proper budgetary planning to provide guidelines for individual local authorities as to the amounts likely to be available for loan payments this year.

Mr. Molloy: Is the Minister aware of circulars which are being sent out by Kildare County Council to people seeking loans under the Housing Finance Agency [1031] in which they are being requested to supply information as to their marital status and being told that this is being taken into consideration in deciding whether they will qualify for loans?

Mr. F. O'Brien: I am not so aware and, as I indicated in my reply, it is not something that we have asked them to do. There is no change in any way in regard to the eligibility of people who would qualify in the normal way for loans. I am at a loss to know why a local authority are doing this. It is not because of instructions from myself or the Department.

Mr. Molloy: Is the Minister aware that Kildare County Council are requesting single persons intending to wed to submit a letter from a Church authority confirming that wedding arrangements have been made? If he is aware of that, does he approve of it? If he is not aware of it, would he take steps to have this type of circular letter withdrawn by Kildare County Council as it is in contravention of the terms of the scheme?

Mr. F. O'Brien: I am not in favour of this. I will take it up with the county council to see what they are at. As the Deputy is aware, local authorities tend from time to time to do things on their own. I will investigate this.

Mr. Molloy: Is the Minister saying that he was not aware of this until I mentioned it now?

Mr. F. O'Brien: The Deputy is reading a letter from Kildare County Council which I did not see.

Mr. Molloy: I have been in touch with the Minister's Department. Does the Minister know what is going on in his Department?

Mr. F. O'Brien: I do. I have a full brief.

Mr. Molloy: Does he not brief himself before he comes in here to reply to a specific question? Does the brief not refer [1032] to the fact that Kildare County Council are issuing these circular letters?

Mr. F. O'Brien: No. If such a circular is issued it is not with the consent of my Department.

Mr. Molloy: Is the Minister not aware that I brought this to the notice of officials in his Department already? Surely, in view of the fact that a parliamentary question was put down on the matter, the Minister should have briefed himself better.

Mr. F. O'Brien: I am sorry, I am merely telling the Deputy that no such instructions issued as far as I am concerned.

Mr. Lenihan: Is the Minister of State not aware that it is through the Housing Finance Agency that the greatest effort can be made by the State in lifting the building construction industry off its knees and promoting employment in an area that requires employment and provides houses for eligible people, and that any restrictions in this area are detrimental to that very important objective? It should be important at present as far as the Government are concerned.

Mr. F. O'Brien: I am glad that the Deputy thinks so highly of the Housing Finance Agency.

Mr. Lenihan: If they are used.

Mr. F. O'Brien: It was not his view when they were being introduced. There is no change in emphasis. We have given an additional £8 million over last year's allocation, which is a substantial increase on previous years, so as far as we are concerned that is no problem. We are concerned about the building industry and that is why we introduced this.

Mr. Molloy: Where is the additional £8 million to come from especially since the Housing Finance Agency who tendered for funds recently failed to obtain any funds on a satisfactory basis? It would seem from that that the agency are now [1033] in some difficulty in meeting those loan applications that are on hand. In these circumstances can the Minister give an assurance to the House that the agency will not fail those applicants?

Mr. F. O'Brien: I assure the House that that will not happen and that the allocation that has been made available for loans will be met.

An Ceann Comhairle: The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.

Mr. Molloy: We are talking about money for the provision of homes.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair is aware of that. I will allow one more supplementary.

Mr. Molloy: It is fine to hear the Minister say that there will be no difficulty but it would be more helpful if he would indicate the basis for making that statement and if he would give the House some information as to where the funds are to come from in view of the situation that a recent invitation for tenders to provide funds for the Housing Finance Agency was not successful.

Mr. F. O'Brien: My Department have made £63 million available to the Housing Finance Agency and that money will be available to those applying for moneys to the agency.

Mr. Molloy: But who is making the money available?

Mr. F. O'Brien: The State is providing the money.

Mr. Molloy: From the Exchequer?

An Ceann Comhairle: Question Time has concluded.

Mr. Molloy: I am now left in the position of having to seek permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

[1034] An Ceann Comhairle: If that is an application, the Chair will consider it.

Mr. Molloy: I will allow the Minister to reply.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair has allowed a generous number of supplementaries on this question.

Mr. Haughey: The Minister has made a very important statement.

Mr. F. O'Brien: The provision is in the capital programme.

An Ceann Comhairle: We have finished Question Time. I have been grieviously attacked by a senior member of the Opposition on this question.

Mr. Molloy: In view of the lack of clarity on this matter, I seek permission to raise it on the Adjournment.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

Mr. F. O'Brien: I am delighted that the Deputy is so happy with the Housing Finance Agency.

An Ceann Comhairle: The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.

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