asked the Minister for the Environment the present position with regard to certificates of reasonable value and if he will make a statement on the matter.

At present, building societies, banks, assurance companies and local authorities are all implementing the Government decision that CRVs be required for all loans for the purchase of new houses and flats. They are also a requirement of new house grants and of exemption from stamp duty in the case of grant type houses.

Is it the case now that all houses being built have certificates of reasonable value?

No. If a person is building his own house on his own plot he has a certificate of exemption.

How about houses for public sale?

A CRV is necessary.

Are there certificates of reasonable value for all new houses being sold on the open market?

The lending agencies are implementing what was required of them. They are looking for CRVs before a loan is made available and grant-aided houses also require CRVs.

That includes builders about whom we had previous discussions, members of the Minister's own party? Are such builders now getting CRVs where heretofore they disregarded such a necessity?

We will never be able to satisfy——

I must discourage the system where a Deputy gets on his feet and stays there asking a series of questions while the Minister is still on his feet. We must bring back some semblance of decorum.

I am discouraged.

4.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he has concluded his discussions with the Construction Industry Confederation and other parties in the construction industry in relation to the administration of the CRVs.

Since the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979 I have had discussions with representatives of the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish House Builders' Association concerning the regulations to be made under section 18 and the consequent revision of procedures for dealing with CRV applications. I have no plans, nor is there any request from the other parties, for further discussions at this stage.

5.

asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to make an order bringing section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979, into operation with regard to CRVs.

Before an order can be made bringing section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979, into operation, regulations must also be made under the section. It is considered that such regulations should be embodied in comprehensive regulations relating to the 1979 Act generally. The drafting of these regulations has reached an advanced stage, and the regulations, together with the relevant commencement order, will be made as soon as possible.

Have the interested parties who will be required to implement these regulations been consulted and have they been able to respond about the draft regulations which are now at an advanced stage?

We have had consultations with any parties who have sought consultations, as far as I am aware.

The draft regulations are now at an advanced stage. Has anybody other than the Minister's officials seen them and will anybody else see them before they are laid before the House?

No, nobody would have seen the actual drafted regulations.

In view of the commitment the Minister made in the Committee Stage debate, does he not consider that he is in breach of an undertaking which he gave to the House that he would consult constructively with interested parties, including the CIF, about the nature of such draft regulations?

We have consulted.

But they have not seen them.

But we have consulted with them.

But nobody has seen this draft?

Not at this stage, but we have held consultations.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister recollect that he gave me an exactly similar reply yesterday to a question regarding section 8 of the Housing Act, 1979? Is it a fact that this Act is virtually not in force at all? When does the Minister propose to bring it into force?

I said at the end of my reply that it will be done as soon as possible.

(Cavan-Monaghan): What does that mean?

In the very near future.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Before the end of this year?

No, I would not commit myself to that.