asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the long delay in payment of supplementary grants by Cork County Council; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Supplementary Housing Grants.
13.
I am aware that there have been delays in the payment of supplementary grants by the council. As regards housing grants, they were notified last March of a capital allocation for 1966-67 of £130,000 which would be adequate to meet their full requirements. Loans amounting to £47,800 are available for draws from the Local Loans Fund and further loans will be sanctioned as required on the basis of the allocation. Temporary difficulties in the issue of moneys from the Fund have arisen as a result of the current banking situation.
As regards supplementary water supply and sewerage grants the council were recently informed that I would be prepared to consider a proposal to borrow for this purpose from a source other than the Local Loans Fund.
How soon does the Minister think it will be possible to make money available to pay supplementary grants? If the bank strike continues in this country, do we take it that the Minister's Department will not be in a position to put local authorities in funds until the bank strike is settled?
I fear that this is not a case where, with or without a bank strike, my Department can put anybody in funds. As the Deputy knows, it is a matter for the Department of Finance. I merely sanction the loans and grants and it is then a matter for another Department and the loans and grants are paid by them and not through my Department.
Is the Minister saying that, having notified local authorities of the amount of money available to them, he cannot now help them, in spite of the fact that people who repaired or built houses last year have been seven, eight or nine months waiting and that their money cannot be paid because of the failure of the Minister's Department to live up to its responsibilities?
That is a completely wrong interpretation of what I said. Simply, what I said is that I do not control the Local Loans Fund issues.
Is the Minister then saying that the Minister sitting on his right is the person responsible for the holdup in the payment of supplementary grants?
That is not what I said.
Then would the Minister say it in plain English or Irish? We cannot understand from the way he is saying it.
The Deputy is attempting to twist what I have said to his own purpose. Is the Deputy not aware that in fact Local Loans Fund moneys have been paid out over the years——
I am aware of that and also of the fact that no Local Loans Fund money good, bad or indifferent, has been paid out this year.
That is not true.
It is true and no money for supplementary grants has been made available this year.
That is not true, and the Deputy knows it well. Local Loans Fund moneys have been paid out and continued to be paid out until the bank strike took place and, as I have now said, difficulties have arisen in regard to these payments, over which neither I nor the Minister for Finance have any real control.
(Interruptions.)
The Government have no control over anything.
It is wrong that the Minister should attempt to mislead the Dáil, the country and the local authorities as he has been doing for the past three months in telling them that more money will be provided.
If the Deputy wishes to ask a question, he may do so, but this is a statement.
Mayo County Council applied for money a long time ago and the Minister sanctioned it. Sanction means nothing because they have applied to the Office of Public Works for a loan and have not heard a word about it.
Would the Minister state whether money has been paid to Donegal County Council this year out of the Local Loans Fund?
If Deputies want to ask questions of a specific nature, let them put down the questions and I shall give them all the information available to me.
So I must give notice of a question according to the rules of order, The Minister represents the same constituency as I do. Surely he should be aware whether or not Donegal County Council got money this year?
The Deputy wants me to confirm on the record here that Donegal County Council got nothing this year. Right—we will correct that for him next week.
(Interruptions.)
The Government have not the price of a wheelbarrow.
I think I can prove the Deputy's statement that no money was paid to Donegal County Council is incorrect.
Do I have to mention speed limit signs?
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 14.
The Chair is coming to his rescue.
I am not coming to anybody's rescue. If it is intended to make a charge against the Chair by way of implication, it is a gross irregularity against the occupant of the Chair.
With respect to the Chair, I know he is availing of the opportunity. I withdraw the remark.