asked the Minister for Local Government the present position in regard to the proposed housing scheme at Crookstown/Farnanes, County Cork.
65.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Housing.
64.
asked the Minister for Local Government the position in regard to the proposed housing scheme at Kilmurray, County Cork.
66.
asked the Minister for Local Government the position in regard to the proposed housing scheme at Clondrohid, County Cork; and whether a tender has been sanctioned.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take questions Nos. 64, 65 and 66 together.
I have approved the council's plans for schemes at Clondrohid and Crooks-town and their proposals to accept tenders for their construction are awaited. I will give a decision shortly on plans which have been submitted by the council for a scheme of 8 houses at Kilmurray.
67.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will sanction the proposal by Cork County Council to erect houses in Bantry.
A proposal to accept a tender for 36 houses at Bantry is being examined. I will give my decision on it as soon as possible.
In view of the urgency of this scheme would not the Minister convey his decision without delay on the tenders submitted. Can he give any indication of the time and the date of each such decisions?
I can only tell the Deputy that a decision will be reached as soon as possible. I cannot give a specific time.
That is an indifferent answer.
I know that but I cannot be definite about the time. I cannot anticipate on what date or at what time a decision will be made.
Is it a question of money?
No. It is a question of examining the tender proposals adequately and then making a decision on them.
Could we get on with the remaining questions?
This is an important matter. There is no purpose in tabling questions if such action does not give us the opportunity of eliciting information. The reply "as soon as possible" was all I got from the Minister. He says the question is not one of money. Therefore, assuming that the money is available, why should the scheme be held up? It has been examined already by the local authority and surely it could be dealt with in a very short time by the Department.
I can only tell the Deputy that the matter will be dealt with as soon as possible in my Department.
The phrase "as soon as possible" should be removed from the answering terminology.
Something as indefinite would have to be substituted for it.
68.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will approve the housing loan application by Cork County Council in respect of the Clonakilty housing scheme.
The council's application for sanction to this loan is under consideration. I will give a decision on it as soon as possible.
Will the Minister say when is "as soon as possible"? The tender has been sanctioned and, as in the case of Bantry, the houses are required urgently? What is the delay? If the money is there, why the delay? The tender has been sanctioned. Would the Minister tell us the cause of the delay? This is important because of the rising costs.
The question is under examination. That is why a decision cannot be given.
What is the delay?
Could we move on as soon as possible to Question No. 69?
I am particularly interested in getting some information. I never ask a question without being here to hear it answered. I wait for my questions and I expect to get replies.
Will the Deputy put a supplementary question so that we can move on to the next question?
May I have some information? I am not satisfied with this kind of an answer. What are the reasons for the delay? If money is not in short reply, as the Minister has indicated in respect of Bantry, can the Minister tell us why there is this holdup in sanctioning the loan? If the loan were sanctioned would the Minister accept that the building of the houses could be commenced within a month or two or possibly straightaway and there would be an advantage of building them in summer-time?
There is no great hold-up. The Department consider a large number of such proposals. This proposal is under consideration at the present time and a decision will be given on it as soon as possible.
Will the Minister define the kind of consideration that its proposal is getting? The tender is sanctioned. The question is under consideration. What kind of consideration? The tender has been accepted for this housing scheme. All that is required is sanction for the loan. What type of consideration do you have to give to that? The plans and everything else are in order. The tender has been accepted but the council cannot commence a scheme without approval for the loan. Surely this kind of answering in the House by a responsible Minister is completely inadequate.
I am calling Question No. 69.
There is no great problem. The Deputy is trying to make a problem.
I am calling Question No. 69 again.
Were it not for the fact that this is Thursday, I would raise the matter on the Adjournment.