asked the Minister for the Environment if he will authorise a substantial increase on the figure of £190,000 in the housing allocation to Cork County Council (West) for the provision of new houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork County Council Housing Allocation.
24.
From the information available to my Department, it would appear that the Cork County Council (West) may need some additional amount of capital this year to meet expenditure on housing work in progress. I understand that no work is held up in the area because of a lack of capital. I am keeping the council's expenditure under review and will authorise additional moneys for their programme when I am satisfied as to the amount they will need.
Would the Minister accept that an allocation of £190,000 in respect of the current year to Cork County Council (West) must be among the lowest allocations in the country to any housing authority? In view of the Minister's reply to Questions Nos. 22 and 23 and to the early part of his reply to this question to the effect that additional money will be made available to the local authority concerned, can he tell us whether this extra money will be made available during the current year or may we assume that additional moneys will be made available early next year?
The council concerned have informed me that there has not been held up any house building through lack of additional capital. We have asked the assistant manager to submit details in writing of his estimate of the council's requirements to December of this year. Following that assessment a recommendation will be made to me from the council.
Surely the Minister will accept that the county council cannot enter into an agreement to build houses if the necessary money is not available? The restriction in respect of our housing schemes is due to the non-availability of the necessary moneys. While I am satisfied with the Minister's reply that moneys will be made available early next year to enable us to continue our housing programme, I shall be asking him about this matter again.
Without thinking at all in terms of next year, if we had an estimate from the assistant county manager we could decide on what to do in order to keep the programme going this year.
An expenditure of £190,000 will be sufficient only to build about 11 houses.
We are awaiting the estimate.
My colleague from West Cork has stolen my thunder, because I intended asking the Minister whether he was satisfied with the situation in south-west Cork whereby there are being provided funds that are sufficient only for the building of 11 houses for the year. Would the Minister consider this to be a satisfactory housing programme?
If the estimate shows that the need is greater we shall make more funds available.
Question No. 25, and-this must be the final question for today.
Would the Minister not agree that there is need in south-west Cork for 20 times more houses than can be built with the funds being provided?
We must move on to the next and final question for today.
I do not know west Cork as well as the Deputy knows it but we are awaiting an up-to-date estimate from the local council and we are awaiting a further estimate for 1979.
Will the additional moneys be provided if the estimate shows that they are needed?
When we get the estimate we shall see what we can do even for this year.
It is a question of kicking to touch again.