asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that no supplementary housing grants have been paid by Mayo County Council since October, 1966, because no funds were available for this purpose; and when moneys will be forthcoming for payment of these grants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Supplementary Housing Grants.
16.
I understand from Mayo County Council that they have paid £40,928 in supplementary housing grants since October last.
So far as I am concerned, the council were notified on 31st March, 1967, of an allocation of £100,000 for expenditure in 1967-68 on house purchase and reconstruction loans and supplementary housing grants. With the £25,000 approximately which they had available to them at that date, this allocation would enable them to spend about £125,000 on grants and loans in 1967-68 as against expenditure on these services in the preceding year of about £95,000.
The formalities for a loan of £100,000 from the local loans fund for the payment of supplementary housing grants, for which the council applied on 3rd May, were completed by them on 9th June and payment of an instalment of £60,000 was made from the fund on 13th June. This will enable the council to pay all supplementary grants that have matured for payment to date.
Does the Minister not appreciate that he has not answered the question and that Mayo County Council have not been able to write a cheque for 3d for supplementary grants since October last?
This is not a supplementary question.
I am asking the Minister if he is aware of it.
Asking is he aware of it does not necessarily make what follows a supplementary question.
We are told by the secretary of the county council that he cannot write a cheque for 3d.
I have answered the question by saying that Mayo County Council have informed us they have paid £40,928 in supplementary housing grants since October last.
Somebody is telling lies.