asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that there is serious delay in the payment of supplementary housing grants by Mayo County Council; and if he will take the necessary steps to have this rectified.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Housing Grants.
11.
I understand from Mayo County Council that while there is no undue delay generally in the payment by them of supplementary housing grants substantial delays have arisen in some cases, mainly because of the bank strike. Their original allocation of £75,000 for 1966-67 in respect of supplementary grants and house-purchase loans was increased by £10,000 last month, and the council propose to spend £61,400 on supplementary grants in addition to a substantial credit balance which they had on hands at the end of March last. A sum of £50,000 was issued from the Local Loans Fund to the council on 30th August, and the council expect that any backlog of payments will be cleared in the near future.
Is the Minister aware that as late as last Monday Mayo County Council had not sent out any money to people, some of whom had been waiting for a year or a year and a half?
That is not my information.
Is the Minister not aware of that? I made a phone call to the Mayo County Council and told them I was putting down a question. I want to know the up-to-date position.
Is the Minister further aware that both Deputy O'Hara and Deputy Dillon stated in this House recently that all the doors in this area were locked and that they had all gone away?
A lot of them are gone.
The census proved it.
Did Deputy Corry not read the census?
What are they coming back for?
My information from proceedings of the county council a few years ago is that this matter was not raised by Deputy O'Hara or any other councillor at the meeting.
The Minister's information is wrong because I raised it at the meeting.
If the Deputy was there.
Would the Minister at least tell the truth to the House?
I am telling the truth but the Deputy will not believe it.
I have made at least three or four telephone calls to the county council to find out what is the up-to-date position.
I said "at the meeting"; I was not talking about telephone calls.
I raised those matters.
I am not saying the Deputy did not raise them; I am saying they were not raised at the meeting.
It is no trouble to the Minister to say anything.