asked the Minister for the Environment if he or his Minister of State met a deputation from the Buncrana Urban District Council, County Donegal recently; and if he will outline any commitment he gave in connection with helping to solve the housing needs and the need for additional water and sewerage services in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Buncrana (Donegal) Deputation.
17.
I met a deputation from Buncrana Urban District Council on 29 April 1982, to discuss the general financial position of the council. In regard to the housing needs of the urban district council, I promised to consider an application which the council would submit for sanction to a loan for the development of 38 private housing sites and also to consider, in conjunction with the examination of claims from other local authorities, making a further capital allocation available to the council in respect of its local authority housing programme in 1982. An additional allocation of £90,000 is now being made available to the council to meet commitments on their programme. In regard to the maintenance and upkeep of existing rented houses, I pointed out that the council's revenue account would benefit to the tune of about £14,500 from the Government's decision to allow local authorities to retain 40 per cent of house sales receipts for current purposes and also indicated that he would consider any submission from the council regarding the use of housing capital receipts for the carrying out of improvement works to their rented dwellings under the scheme of improvement works for local authority dwellings. These works may qualify for grants under the recently revised house improvement grants scheme.
Regarding water and sewerage needs in the area, I indicated that the preparation of contract documents for phase II of the Buncrana sewerage scheme had been approved on 4 February 1982. These documents have since been received and are now under consideration in the Department. I also pointed out that contract documents for the mechanical plant for the enlargement of filter works for the Buncrana water supply scheme had been approved on 28 April 1982 and that plant tenders could now be sought to enable completion of contract documents for the civil works.