asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the allocation of money by his Department to Kerry County Council for the financial year 1975 falls far short of the total amount required by the council to achieve its housing targets for (a) the erection of new council houses and (b) the payment of supplementary housing grants and housing loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Housing Allocation.
30.
Kerry County Council have informed me that their original capital allocation for local authority housing for 1975 was inadequate. I have authorised an interim increase of £150,000 and will review the position following a detailed examination of the council's housing programme and capital requirements which is to be made locally by officers of my Department early next month.
An initial capital allocation of £540,000 was made to the county council for the payment of housing loans and supplementary grants in respect of the six month period ending on 30th June, 1975. This amount was generally related to an allocation of 60 per cent of the 12-months equivalent of the allocation for the nine-month period to 31st December, 1974. When notified of this allocation the council were informed that a supplementary allocation would be made at a later stage, having regard to their commitments for the remainder of the year.
I have now received a request from the council for a supplementary allocation of £150,000. The matter is under consideration and I hope to be in a position shortly to issue a decision.
Is the Minister aware that an additional allocation of £150,000 is only chickenfeed when compared with the housing commitments of Kerry County Council? Is he further aware that the allocation of £850,000 for new houses, which includes £201,000 for NBA houses, falls far short of the estimate prepared and submitted to his Department by the Kerry County Council for £1,500,000, to meet their target of at least 300 houses this year?
I do not know how the Deputy can say that £150,000 is chickenfeed in view of the fact that that was the amount they asked for.
Question No. 31.
I gather from the Minister's reply that he informed the council——
The Deputy must ask a question.
——that he would provide a further £150,000 and they would have to take it.
If the Deputy will not ask a question I will pass on to Question No. 31.
I have received from the council a request for a supplementary allocation of £150,000.
Question No. 31.
Further arising from the Minister's reply——
(Interruptions.)
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply I would like to raise the subject matter of this question on the Adjournment tonight.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
The Deputy was only allowed one supplementary.
That is not so.
I am not surprised that Deputy Fitzgerald cannot count.
The Minister will be coming to Cork next week and we will see then how he is treated.
(Interruptions.)
Order please. Question No. 31.