Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - SDA Loan Scheme.
- SDA loan scheme limits 8 speeches
The Minister said he had no plans to phase out the scheme, but would not raise its income or loan limits because funds were limited; applicants could seek Housing Finance Agency loans instead.
Seamus Kirk, Dick Spring, Ray Burke, Thomas J. Fitzpatrick
- Construction industry funding 4 speeches
Burke asked the Minister to fund construction jobs amid high unemployment; the Minister replied sarcastically, drawing criticism from Collins and Fitzgerald.
Ray Burke, Dick Spring, Gene Fitzgerald, Edward Collins
asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to phase out the SDA loan scheme; if so, how he intends to replace it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
I have no proposals to phase out the SDA loan scheme. There is a continuing high level of demand for loans under the SDA scheme and the capital allocation of £74.5 million for 1983 will be fully expended.
Comment on this
Will the Minister consider a review of the income and loan limits for the SDA scheme, because they have not been changed for some time? Considering inflation and other factors, and the fact that the SDA scheme is attractive, will the Minister agree that it is time those limits were changed?
Comment on this
I accept the Deputy's comment that it is an attractive scheme but I am sure I do not have to remind the Deputy, a former Minister for the Environment, that the scheme is being operated in conjunction with the Housing Finance Agency. The schemes are working side by side and they seem to be meeting the demand for loans adequately.
Comment on this
The difficulty is that the limits have not been increased since 1981—I was the last Minister to increase the limit—and I am sure the Minister will agree that the SDA scheme is a fairer one. Will the Minister accept that he should consider raising the limits?
Comment on this
Given the limited level of funds available there are no proposals for increasing the limits. I should also like to point out that people who do not qualify for SDA loans may qualify for a loan from the Housing Finance Agency, which has an income limit of £10,000.
Comment on this
The Minister is purposely pushing people from the SDA scheme to the Housing Finance Agency.
Comment on this
I should like to ask the Minister if out of the £100 million he has in his programme for Government with the Fine Gael Party he will put some money into the construction industry, bearing in mind that 40 per cent of all construction workers are unemployed?
Comment on this
I should like to assure the Deputy that if I find any spare pennies left behind by his administration I will definitely put them into the building industry.
Comment on this
That smart-Alick stuff will not get the Minister anywhere; it does not help the building workers.
