asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department will grant early approval to an application from Laois County Council to charge the cost of piping an open and dangerous drain on Liogard housing estate, Portlaoise, County Laois, to housing and roads; and if his Department will consider making a special grant available to the council for the completion of outstanding works to the scheme which has been left incomplete by the developer.
Written Answers. - Portlaoise (Laois) Housing Estate.
564.
Although Liogard housing estate is a private development, Laois County Council applied to my Department to charge the cost of piping the section of the drain on this estate to the national secondary road improvement grant and to a nearby local authority housing scheme. It is not considered appropriate to charge the costs involved in the manner proposed and the local authority has been so informed. There are no funds at my disposal for the payment of special grants in respect of the completion of unfinished private housing estates.