asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that the amount of money allocated for housing loans to Galway County Council is totally inadequate; and if he will consider making a further allocation in view of the large number of applicants.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Housing Loans.
30.
A capital allocation of £2.815 million for the payment of housing loans and grants in 1981 was notified to Galway County Council on February 6 last.
Since January 1 a total of £800,000 has issued to the council from the Local Loans Fund while a further £31,000 has been made available by way of internal capital receipts. In this period the council's expenditure on loans and grants totalled £846,000.
I am informed that at 20 March, Galway County Council had on hands certified housing loan payments to the value of £290,000, towards which a further instalment of £215,000 will issue from the Local Loans Fund early in April.
In these circumstances I do not consider that the allocation already made to the council needs to be reconsidered at this stage.
Surely the Minister is aware that the funds made available by the Department to Galway County Council for housing loans are totally inadequate? Is the Minister aware that the funds recently allocated to the county council for housing loans are being used not to cover current applications but applications on hand for a considerable time? Is he aware that people whose loans have been sanctioned by Galway County Council are only getting small down payments — for example, on £12,000 they are getting £3,000? Is he aware that due to the inadequacy of funds being made available by the Department terrible problems are being created for potential house-builders in County Galway? Will the Department make some effort to rectify this deficiency?
On 31 December last all outstanding liabilities of county councils throughout the country were paid. I will keep the matter under review.
Is the Minister aware of the chaotic conditions that exist in County Galway? I am asking the Minister to make sufficient funds available to enable people to get out of the squeeze from banks and others——
Galway County Council have not informed me about what the Deputy has been saying.
I am telling the Minister now.