asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that a number of proposals to erect cottages already approved by his Department are held up by Kerry County Council owing to the lack of the required finance; and if he will make the necessary capital available so that woek can commence on these badly-required cottages.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Cottages.
38.
I am not so aware. The true position, as I have stated previously, is that no housing proposals are held up for lack of money. Kerry County Council, in common with other housing authorities, were informed on 31st March last that their provisional allocation of £144,000 for local authority housing commitments would be subject to review and that appropriate adjustments would be made to meet any significant changes in the course of the year. A supplementary allocation of £30,000 was made last August following a joint review of the general housing position in Kerry by officers of my Department and of the council. They are requested on 2nd of this month to indicate if any further moneys would be required during the year and if necessary a further supplementary allocation will be made to them.
Is the Minister aware that when I made representations to the county council last week, I was told that they already had in hands 20 applications for cottages which had been approved by the Department but that they had no money to build them and were awaiting word from the Department regarding the necessary finance?
The county council have been requested to indicate what further moneys they require.
They cannot build unless they get the money.
They must ask for it first. They must tell us what they want.