asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state how many proposals, under the Gaeltacht Housing Scheme, are held up for want of funds in West Cork and if he can state how soon it is expected money will be available to enable the erection of these houses to be proceeded with.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gaeltacht Housing Scheme.
There are ninety-five applications from West Cork for assistance under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Act which have been reported on by the surveyor. The majority of these cases are from areas which are neither Fíor-Ghaeltacht nor of low valuation, and are not, therefore, entitled to precedence under the Acts.
I am not yet in a position to say when more funds will be made available under the Acts.
If these applicants are not eligible for assistance under the Act why not tell the people so? Do I understand that there were ninety-five such applications?
Yes, there are ninety-five applicants qualified to receive assistance under the Act.
Did I understand the Parliamentary Secretary to say that some of those are not qualified at all to seek assistance under the Act?
No, but preference is given to applications from the Fíor-Ghaeltacht, and the majority of these are outside the Fíor-Ghaeltacht.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say if there is any money available at the moment for those applicants who are in the Fíor-Ghaeltacht?
Yes, I understand there is.
Is it a fact that applications from the Fíor-Ghaeltacht in West Cork have been before the Parliamentary Secretary's office for the last two years, and will he tell the House why they have not been dealt with?