asked the Minister for Local Government the housing schemes submitted by Meath County Council which are still before his Department, indicating the stage at which each scheme is at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Housing Schemes.
64.
With regard to build ing proposals I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 63 of the 22nd June, 1972. An additional proposal to accept a tender for 11 houses at Kilmainhamwood was received on the 3rd inst. and is being examined. Proposals for the raising of loans to finance schemes at Lobinstown, Donore, Castletown and Kilmainhamwood are under consideration in my Department. No proposals from the council for schemes at planning stage are before my Department.
Would the Minister explain why he has found it necessary to keep the Donore scheme in his office since October last awaiting sanction for loan fund permission? A number of people are waiting for houses and the longer the delay, the more the houses will cost.
Looking back to the reply I gave on 22nd June, I notice that the proposal in respect of the Donore scheme was received on the 29th March, 1972. That was the proposal for the acceptance of a tender. It is still under consideration.
Can the Minister say why he has not sanctioned the borrowing of money for the building of those houses?
It is not unusual to have proposals in the Department awaiting sanction. I do not think the Deputy would expect that as proposals came in they are sanctioned automatically. First, they must be examined carefully and, secondly, the financial resources available to me determine the number of sanctions that can be released at any particular time. These proposals are usually dealt with in blocks so that there is a time lag between the release of each block. It is usual to have a time lag between the release of each block. I am anxious to have the matter dealt with as quickly as possible. Sanctions for housing schemes are given at a fairly steady pace. This is evident from the number of houses under construction at the moment which is an all time record. It is evident also from the number of houses that were completed last year, which also was an all time record, and indications are that completions in the present financial year will exceed last year's record.
Would the Minister not agree that it would ring rather hollow with people waiting for houses to be told that you have to wait until a block release is prepared? Surely the Minister knows that his Department have vetted this scheme from the time it was first mooted until now and sanctioned the contractor several months ago, knowing very well that he could not start without the money? Would the Minister not agree that this has gone far enough and that he should issue permission to borrow for the purpose of starting the job? Or could he say when he proposes to do that?
No, I cannot say. This scheme, along with others, will be considered when the next lot of housing schemes is being released.
The Minister is saying there is no money to do this job.
I am not saying there is no money. I am saying there is not unlimited money. The Deputy under stands the position very well.
But you have money enough in the Local Loans Fund. If this was in Galway, it would be sanctioned quickly enough.