asked the Minister for Local Government if he will arrange with the housing department of Kerry County Council to have a further 60 houses erected in Killorglin to meet the needs of the 72 applicants who did not qualify under the present scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Houses.
31.
It is a matter for the county council themselves, under their devolved responsibilities, to decide if and when a further scheme of local authority houses in Killorglin should be undertaken. As the Deputy is aware, the county council's housing programme has been greatly facilitated in recent years by a generous allocation of capital. The capital expenditure sanctioned in 1976 was £1,710,000 compared with £408,000 in 1972-73.
Would the Minister take up the matter with the council because we have 72 people, of whom 40 are young married couples, who have been disappointed? Accommodation cannot be got in Killorglin below £12 a week which is too much for many of them.
There were 104 applicants for the last housing scheme but there were only 61 of them recommended. The list was in two parts— one of 43 applicants for the familytype house and another of 18 for elderly persons' dwellings. There was a total of only 61 last time. Therefore it would be wrong to suggest that there is still a large number of unsatisfied applicants in Killorglin. If an application is made by Kerry County Council I will have a look at it, but there is no such application and it is a matter for the county council to put one forward.
There were 112 applicants. The doctor did not visit all of them. The original list submitted was examined. There are a large number of young factory workers who have to pay £12 a week for a one-roomed flat in the area.
According to Kerry County Council there were 104 applications. A list of 61 was recommended; 43 of those were for familytype houses and the remaining 18 for elderly persons' dwellings. Even so it is still a matter for Kerry County Council and I would not be entitled to interfere in it at this stage. Deputy O'Connor might take it up with the council.