Vol. 221 No. 4
asked the Minister for Local Government why there is a delay in sanctioning an application by the Offaly County Council for the approval of a loan of £40,000 for advances towards the cost of new houses; and whether it is correct that this loan has been pending in his Department since 21st October, 1965.
47.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason why the application of James Murphy of Rhode Bridge, Rhode, Offaly for a housing loan has not been dealt with by the county council.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.
The application from Offaly County Council for sanction to a loan of £40,000 for the making of house purchase loans was received in my Department on 22nd October, 1965, and is under consideration. On the general question of procedure in dealing with such loans, I would refer the Deputy to the terms of my reply of 9th February to Question Nos. 22 and 23 asked by Deputy Coughlan. A decision on the application will be given when finality has been reached in the detailed consultations which are at present in progress with housing authorities, generally, in regard to capital allocations for various housing purposes in the coming financial year.
I understand that the local authority decided recently to defer the issue of approvals under their house-purchase loans scheme in cases such as that referred to by the Deputy, pending the approval to a further loan. I might add that there is still a fairly substantial balance of a previously approved loan undrawn by the local authority.
