asked the Minister for Local Government if, arising from a statement on housing finances made by him on 6th June, Dublin Corporation will be one of the local authorities on which there may be a cut-back in financial aid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation Housing Finances.
9.
I presume the Deputy has in mind a speech which I made at the opening of a housing scheme in Dungarvan on 6th June, 1975. In that speech I made no reference to a cut-back in the finance to be made available for local authority housing. On the contrary, I stressed the unprecedently high level of authorised capital expenditure on this service in the current year, which will, of course, also rank for the new, greatly increased, subsidisation from central funds. The speech underlined my commitment that areas like Dublin city with relatively urgent housing needs should get greater, rather than less, financial aid for their public housing programme. This commitment has been reflected in the allocations for local authority housing made by me to date.
I know it will not be permitted to quote from a newspaper.
It would not be appropriate at Question Time.
I will quote it tonight during the debate on the motion.
If the Deputy does, I shall be grateful, and will he please quote it word for word?
10.
asked the Minister for Local Government if finances will be sanctioned in the near future to enable Cork County Council to proceed with the erection of new houses in the northern area of the county.
The local reviews of the housing situation in each area, which were necessary following the Government's decision to authorise an additional £7 million expenditure in 1975 on local authority housing, are nearing completion. I hope to be in a position to notify revised allocations generally next month.
In the meantime, as an interim measure, I have authorised Cork County Council to incur additional expenditure of the order of £200,000 on local authority housing in the north Cork area.