asked the Minister for Local Government if he will inquire from Kerry County Council the total number of applicants for rehousing in Kerry; the number of houses proposed to be erected this year; and how they propose to deal with the remaining applicants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Houses.
49.
Housing authorities are not required to submit to my Department details of the number of applicants for rehousing. Kerry County Council estimates that they will complete about 200 dwellings in the current financial year. At 31st December, 1971, they had 263 houses in progress or at tender stage, 121 in schemes at planning stage and had acquired or were acquiring sites for a further 930 houses.
50.
asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department notified Kerry County Council on the 7th January, 1972, of approval to erect four houses at Listellick South, Tralee, County Kerry, with a proviso that work should not commence until sanction of the relevant loan had been obtained; if so, when the loan will be sanctioned; and when work on the houses will commence.
51.
asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department notified Kerry County Council on the 7th January, 1972, of approval to erect a housing scheme at Ardfert, County Kerry, with a proviso that work should not commence until sanction of the relevant loan has been obtained: and, if so, when the loan will be sanctioned and when work will commence.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.
I am aware of these notifications. The requirement that work should not be commenced pending the giving of sanction to a loan is a normal condition of approval to the acceptance of tender or direct labour proposals. A loan is not normally recommended for issue from the Local Loans Fund until such approval has been given. I expect to give a decision on the loan applications shortly. In the meantime I am not in a position to say when work on the schemes will be commenced.
52.
asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department received a proposal from Kerry County Council in connection with the erection of six houses at Castleisland; and, if so, if he will state the present position in the matter.
A proposal to build six houses by direct labour as the first stage of this scheme was received in my Department on 24th January, 1972, and is being examined. I will give my decision on it shortly.