asked the Minister for Local Government the present position concerning the proposed housing scheme at Greencastle, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Housing Scheme.
5.
This is a small scheme of 14 houses which is being provided by the housing authority on its own responsibility. I suggest that the Deputy should approach the county council directly to find out what is the present position of the scheme.
Is it not a function of the Minister as a result of my having tabled a question or, for that matter any other Deputy, to seek from any local authority the reply required to such a question?
No. As the Deputy may remember, last year I gave authority to the local authorities to build up to 60 dwellings without referring to the Department of Local Government. This 14-house scheme comes under that. I do not want to interfere with the right of a local authority to do that. I am not trying to give a short answer to the Deputy when I say I would prefer if he would ask Donegal County Council what is the position in regard to the scheme.
I appreciate that the Minister has increased the number of houses which local authorities can build without consulting the Minister. This was started by his predecessor who initiated this scheme.
A question, Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that I did not ask him to interfere. I did not ask him to take any decision? I asked him would he let me know what the position is.
The Deputy could also ask me what the day is like outside but he could find that out very easily by looking himself. He could easily find out what is happening in his own county by asking the county council what the position is. I do not propose to interfere. It would be taken as interference if I asked them what they were doing about those 14 houses. If the Deputy wants to complain that the job is not being done as it should be done, that is a different matter, and I would be glad to hear from him on that point.
Would the Minister agree that the reply he has just given is in contravention of his previous statement that he did not want to give the Deputy a short answer. He certainly has given the Deputy a very short answer. He is paid to give any answer or any information within reason.
The Deputy is engaging in argument now.
I have given the Deputy a rather long answer. Perhaps, I was wrong to go to that much trouble.
It was a short answer.
The first and second replies were reasonable enough but when the Deputy persisted in asking something which he should have been able to find out——
A very arrogant answer. A rude answer.
Order. Question No 6.