Vol. 497 No. 2
266 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by Rural Resettlement Ireland that a working group be set up to assess the potential of a project targeted at restoring 100 closed-up houses in rural areas for long-term occupancy by resettled families; his views on resourcing, encouraging, facilitating or supporting this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24361/98]
267 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the proposals by Rural Resettlement Ireland targeted at restoring 100 closed-up houses in rural areas for long-term occupancy by resettled families; and his views on supporting this scheme. [24362/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.
I am aware of this proposal and a working group involving my Department, RRI and local authorities has recently been established and met for the first time to assess its potential and how it might operate. The proposal is effectively that my Department would fund a pilot programme of special grants aimed at restoring derelict houses owned by farmers for occupation by families resettling under the RRI programme.
