asked the Minister for Local Government what is the up-to-date position concerning a proposal by Wicklow County Council to provide (a) 36 houses at Newtownmountkennedy; (b) 18 houses at Kilmacanogue and (c) 230 houses at Bray.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - County Wicklow Housing.
215.
Contractors have been selected in agreement with the housing authority from a short-list of contractors who submitted acceptable proposals under the guaranteed order housing project which has been developed by my Department. The authorities have decided to avail of the services of the National Building Agency to provide the schemes under this project, and the agency have asked the selected contractors to submit proposals, including quotations for the schemes, as a matter of urgency.
Subject to the submission of acceptable quotations, it is hoped that it will be possible to make an early start on these schemes.
Is this reply intended for Newtownmountkennedy, Kilmacanogue and Bray?
Yes.
How long have these plans been awaiting sanction in the Department? In the case of Bray they have been there for years and in the case of Newtownmountkennedy and Kilmacanogue they have been there for months.
I cannot give the Deputy dates.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary an estimate of the number of people in these areas seeking houses?
No, this information is not available either.
Two years ago I told the Parliamentary Secretary there were at least 1,100 people in Wicklow county and town looking for houses and nothing has been done on their behalf since.
216.
asked the Minister for Local Government when approval will be given to invite tenders for the building of 16 houses at Dunlavin, County Wicklow.
I have approved the council's plan for this scheme, and they can invite tenders for the work when they are ready to do so.
Has a loan been sanctioned for these houses in Dunlavin?
No, we have approved the plans. It is up to the local authority to invite tenders. It is only when tenders are invited and the cost made known to us that loan facilities will be made available. It is not the practice to make loan facilities available to any local authority in advance of receipt of a loans tender in the Department.
217.
asked the Minister for Local Government when sanction will be given for the provision by direct labour of 18 houses at Kilcoole, County Wicklow.
I have approved this proposal.
218.
asked the Minister for Local Government when sanction will be given for tenders submitted for the provision of (a) 18 houses at Ashford, County Wicklow and (b) 20 houses at Rathnew, County Wicklow.
I have approved these proposals.
How long will it be before money can be sanctioned for the scheme?
I do not have that information; perhaps the Deputy would repeat the question next week.
In relation to the Ashford scheme of houses has the Parliamentary Secretary anything in his notes about the sewerage scheme which is also part of the problem in Ashford?
No.
Question No. 219 postponed.