Kilkenny County Council were allocated a total of €4.1 million for their local authority housing programme in 2002 compared to expenditure of €7.04 million last year, when activity on the programme was at a higher level. The 2002 allocation consists of an Exchequer capital grant of €1.6 million combined with the use of internal capital receipts of €2.5 million. This allocation relates to the main local authority housing construction-acquisition programme, the provision of extensions to local authority houses, the undertaking of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing and the provision of Traveller accommodation.
The councils recently requested additional Exchequer funding this year due to an emerging shortfall in the amount of its internal capital receipts. This application is being considered by my Department. My Department has already conveyed approval to the council to purchase a turnkey development of eight houses in Goresbridge and it is expected that the council will be seeking my Department's approval to accept a tender for a six house scheme in Johnstown in the near future. It is understood from the council that further schemes will be submitted to the Department for approval to proceed in due course and it has also been indicated that 40 house completions are anticipated in the current year.