asked the Taoiseach if he will state with regard to the recent letter sent by him to local authorities inviting the submission to the Government of schemes of economic merit the number of local authorities who have submitted such proposals to date; by what method such proposals will be considered, and if approved, the method of financing them; if it is desirable that a local authority should submit detailed estimates of their proposals, or whether a general outline would suffice initially to obtain approval in principle; and how long a decision will take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Schemes of Economic Merit.
2.
It is not practicable to give a detailed reply to the Deputy's Question at this stage.
I may say, however, that a considerable number of proposals has been submitted in response to the letter which I sent in July last to a number of Lord Mayors, Mayors and Chairmen of local bodies and to the letter issued in the same month by the Minister for Local Government to the Chairmen of other local bodies. The proposals are at present being analysed in the recently created Economic Development Branch of the Department of Finance. Should further information be required regarding any of the proposals, requests for such information will be addressed to the local bodies concerned.