Vol. 493 No. 3
314 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will report on the rural resettlement scheme in counties Clare, Galway, Kerry, Mayo and Roscommon; if this scheme has been initiated by the relevant local authorities; and the progress, if any, made on the resettlement programme to date. [15643/98]
337 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to extend the local authority rural resettlement pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16339/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 337 together.
A pilot rural resettlement scheme providing for the building or acquisition of 40 local authority houses in Counties Clare, Galway, Kerry, Mayo and Roscommon was notified to the county councils in May, 1997. An additional 40 local authority starts were allocated in 1998 and the scheme was extended to include Cork (North), Donegal, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Offaly, Sligo and Tipperary (North) county councils.
Local authorities are currently building or acquiring houses and sites under the schemes and I understand that in respect of the 1997 programme some 32 houses have been purchased or are under construction or sites acquired with the balance in progress e.g. being purchased, sites being acquired etc.
I understand that Rural Resettlement Ireland has resettled over 320 families using the various measures available to them to assist their resettlement programme.
