asked the Minister for the Environment the most up-to-date information regarding increases in house prices, in both percentage and money terms, over the last 12 months and broken down for each three month period since June 1977.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Increases in House Prices

Notes:

(1) These figures relate to increases in the average gross price of houses for which loans were approved by the main lending agencies.

(2) The houses concerned are not necessarily comparable from quarter to quarter or from area to area; this applies particularly in areas where the number of loans approved in a quarter may be relatively small and the average prices influenced significantly by individual housing schemes. Further, the average price may be influenced from quarter to quarter by changes in the distribution of loan approvals among the agencies.

Thanks be to God for tabular statements.