Vol. 563 No. 4
595 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason only six out of 67 houses have been refurbished in an estate (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and when approval of the application currently with his Department will issue. [7873/03]
Kilkenny Borough Council was given approval in October 2001 to accept a tender to undertake refurbishment work to a pilot phase of three houses at Ossory Park, Kilkenny, at an estimated cost of €230,000 under my Department's remedial works scheme. My Department was subsequently informed by the council in September 2002 that the authority had negotiated an extension to the contract for refurbishment work to a further ten houses and that work has now been completed on six houses. The Department is currently examining the city council's application for a revised budget cost approval for the 13 houses in the pilot phase and a decision will be conveyed to the city council as soon as possible.
Further phases of remedial works to the remaining houses in the scheme and external environmental works will be undertaken on the basis of evaluation of the pilot phase and of new tenders being sought by the city council in due course.
