asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state why advances for public health services such as the provision of water and sanitary facilities during the financial year 1950-51, from the Local Loans Fund, Transition Development Fund and Employment Schemes Vote was approximately £500,000 less than the amount which the Minister for Finance estimated, in his 1950 financial statement, to be required.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sanitary Facilities.
This was due partly to the decision made during the year to discontinue the subvention of sanitary services works by lump sum grants and to substitute for it a system of equivalent contributions towards loan charges and partly to the rather slow progress of schemes in hands occasioned by the difficult supply position in relation to materials for water and sewerage schemes, particularly water mains and fittings and mechanical equipment such as filters and pumping plant.