asked the Minister for Local Government why sanction for the full amount of £50,000 applied for by the Limerick County Council for cottage repairs was refused, and why his Department agreed to sanction only half this amount; further, whether he is aware that there are over 2,000 cottages in County Limerick badly in need of immediate repairs, and, if so, if he will have the decision reconsidered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Cottage Repairs.
Sanction was not refused to the loan of £50,000 referred to by the Deputy. The loan was to be spent over a two year period and it was ascertained from the housing authority that they considered that a loan of £25,000 would be sufficient to continue the council's cottage repair programme for the balance of the present financial year. The raising of a loan on this basis was sanctioned on 9th instant. In these circumstances the second part of the Deputy's question does not seem to arise.
The Minister states that the loan of £25,000 sanctioned will carry on the work of cottage repairs until the end of the financial year. My information in the county council from the engineering organisation we have engaged in that type of work is that we would have only sufficient to carry on to the end of December. I cannot reconcile the Minister's statement with the information with which I have been supplied.
I think the Deputy is chairman of the county council and it is his own housing authority that furnished me with the information.
I am glad to know that.