asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the Kerry County Council are experiencing great difficulty in getting contractors to build single rural cottages at a contract price which will be approved by his Department, and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of giving the county council permission to carry out their single rural cottage schemes by direct labour.

I am aware that the Kerry County Council have experienced difficulty in obtaining reasonably priced tenders for the erection of single rural cottages in the county. The council have been informed that no objection is seen to the erection by direct labour of 100 such cottages.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the number of single rural cottages erected by the Kerry County Council in the past five years.

Fifty-nine single rural cottages were erected by the Kerry County Council in the five years ended 31st March, 1956.