It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10 (resumed) and 11. Private Members' Business from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. will be item No. 88, by agreement.
Order of Business.
On the first sitting date after the recess I asked the Minister for the Environment, with the permission of the Chair, when the legislation he had promised us in relation to the new house grants—it was promised for the first sitting day after the recess—would be introduced. He did not give us a satisfactory answer then and now, two weeks later, there is still no sign of this legislation. I should like to ask if the legislation will ever come or is the Minister hoping his Taoiseach will find the guts to go to the country in order to ensure that he does not have to do this at all?
The Deputy has a question on the Order Paper about that matter and it will be answered tomorrow. I should like to inform the Deputy that all local authorities have been notified of the details of the scheme and the legislation that will be required for the subsidy part of the housing package is in the course of preparation and will be introduced shortly. The rest can be done by regulation.
That is the same answer I got a fortnight ago.
Will the Minister say if he is substituting his new proposal for the low-rise mortgage scheme? Is he abolishing the low-rise mortgage scheme?
There is a question on the Order Paper in regard to that and it would be more appropriate to deal with that matter when the question arises.
The Government have abolished that scheme.
We cannot discuss that matter.
Arising out of the response of the Minister for the Environment, I should like to know if he will make available to the House—if he cannot make avaliable the proposed legislation—the documentation sent to the local authorities? Will he place it in the Library of the House?
I will be delighted to do so.
Will the Minister do that today?
Yes, and I will go further and arrange for a copy to be sent to the Deputy.
To each Deputy, I hope.
If the Deputy wishes to get a copy of it I will be delighted to send one to him because it is a worth-while package.
I will judge that when I see it.
With the permission of the Chair I should like permission to raise on the Adjournment, in conjunction with Deputy D'Arcy the authorisation granted by the Minister for Agriculture in the last three days for the importation of a quantity of Cypriot potatoes in contrast to the specific statement by the Minister of State in the Dáil last Tuesday, as reported at column 2564, that there was no intention of granting such an authorisation.
I will communicate with the Deputy.