asked the Minister for Local Government the effect on Dublin Corporation's house building programme of the Government's increased contribution for housing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation Housing Programme.
116.
The increased capital allocation made by the Government for local authority housing in the current financial year, amounting to £32 million, will ensure that adequate funds will be available to the corporation to enable them to achieve the maximum output which is possible from their existing resources. With this assurance, they can proceed with confidence with the expansion of their building programme as quickly as possible. I hope that the Dublin area, generally, will benefit substantially, also, from the Government's emergency supplementary programme of 10,000 houses which I announced recently. Agreement in principle has already been reached with the city and county manager on areas where the planning of major schemes under this programme may be put in hands. The corporation's estimate of capital requirements for local authority housing for the current financial year is £12.35 million. Actual issues from the local loans fund last year for this purpose amounted to £6.5 million.
I take it that this question which was put down by Labour Deputy, Dr. John O'Connell, to the Labour Minister for Local Government refers to the published figure in the Government's Capital Programme for the coming year?
Question No. 116 is on the Deputy's Order Paper and I am quite sure he will be able to read it, and he will know exactly what it means.
The additional amount of capital expenditure, is that the figure which is given in the Government's published public capital Programme for the coming year?
That is too complicated a question for the Minister.
What I am trying to find out is this. Perhaps the Minister for Local Government's attention has been drawn to a report which appeared in the paper this morning, presumably emanating from that indefatigable Government Information Bureau, that an extra £5 million has been allocated for housing.
The scope of this question is being extended by the Deputy.
No, it is not. The question refers specifically to an increased contribution for housing. The Minister has referred to a figure of £32 million which I think is the figure included in the published public capital programme. However, this morning's paper carried an announcement about an additional £5 million. I should like to have these two figures co-related.
Unfortunately, I did not have as much time as Deputy Haughey to read the morning papers, so I am not quite sure what he is referring to.
He is an ignorant Minister.
The Deputy never had the opportunity of being any kind of Minister, so he does not have to worry.
I shall put my question in the simplest possible terms; has the figure which is published in the public capital programme for 1973/74 been increased since that figure was published?
The amount of money which is available is as stated. I am not responsible for whatever appeared in this morning's paper, and Deputy Haughey might take it up with the editor of the newspaper.
Whatever about the figure in the newspaper or the figure given by the Minister, what is most important—and I would ask the Minister to attend to it diligently during the year—is that the extra figure indicated is, in fact, released and expended, as it is now suggested it will be.
I have already made it quite clear that, if local authorities who are able to build houses this year and who expend the money which they have got, require more money to expand this year, that money will be made available to them.
Will the Minister ensure that there are no inhibitions placed on this development?
The fact that the National Coalition is in office is proof enough to anybody who wants to know that there will be no inhibitions.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.