andCarty asked the Minister for Local Government when he proposes to make funds available to Galway County Council for the purpose of paying (1) loans outstanding under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, and (2) supplementary grants outstanding under the Housing (Amendment) Acts.

asked the Minister for Local Government when he proposes to make funds available for the payment of supplementary housing grants by the Galway County Council.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together.

On the 9th April, I recommended the issue from the Local Loans Fund of the balance of loan instalments requested by the Galway County Council. The amounts are £10,000 for advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and £60,000 for the payment of supplementary housing grants.

I have also recommended to the Commissioners of Public Works to make available to the council a loan of £150,000 for the payment of supplementary housing grants.

Were these not the commitments the previous Government undertook to pay?

But did not pay.

They undertook to pay them.

We got none of them.

Would the Minister indicate when he proposes to make these funds available?

I have given the Deputy the dates——

On which they were recommended but I am referring to the future.

I have given the Deputy the dates when notification was conveyed to Galway County Council.

Notification is one thing, but payment is another.

Does the Minister mean by his reply that approval was granted to Galway County Council to make these payments?

Perhaps the Deputy would like me to read the reply again?

Yes.

It would not be a bad idea.

Just a second—I am asking does the Minister mean that approval was granted to Galway County Council to make these payments, or can he state when the council will be in a position to make the payments?

This is what I mean: On 9th April—this is the 1st May—I recommended the issue from the Local Loans Fund of the balance of loan instalments requested by the Galway County Council. The amounts are £10,000 for advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and £60,000 for the payment of supplementary housing grants. That was on 9th April. I have also recommended to the Commissioners of Public Works to make available to the council a loan of £150,000 for the payment of supplementary housing grants.