asked the Minister for Local Government the estimated cost (a) in the current financial year and (b) in a full year of each of the changes in the differential rents system recently announced by him; and the reasons for these changes.

The new national differential rent scheme which is being applied uniformly throughout the country with effect from 1st July, 1973, is estimated to cost an additional £1.5 million in the current year and £2 million in a full year. The new scheme was introduced to remove the unjust aspects of differential rents.

239.

andMr. Lemass asked the Minister for Local Government the steps he proposes to take following the increase by local authorities of the rents of old age pensioners and of tenants who are in receipt of the increased social welfare benefits granted in the budget.

As Deputies are aware, I recently announced a new national differential rent scheme which is being applied uniformly throughout the country with effect from 1st July, 1973. The new scheme is particularly beneficial to tenants who are solely dependent on social welfare benefits. For example, a tenant in the Dublin Corporation area whose sole income is the contributory old age pension of £7.20 and who would have been due to pay £1.03 in rent under an old scheme will be required to pay only 10p in rent under the new national scheme.

240.

asked the Minister for Local Government when he will give sanction to the new purchase scheme for tenants of local authority houses.

New purchase terms for existing local authority houses were announced by me this morning.