asked the Minister for Justice how many houses are in course of erection in (a) Waterford city and (b) Waterford county for the Gardaí.

Under the Garda building programme, married quarters and houses are provided only outside the larger centres of population. Accordingly, no houses are being provided in the four county boroughs of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford and their environs.

In Waterford county it is proposed to provide a total of 16 houses or married quarters. The Office of Public Works will provide 11 sets of married quarters at nine centres according as new stations are built at these centres, and the National Building Agency are providing five houses at Dungarvan. Three of these houses have been completed and occupied and a contract has been placed for the remaining two.

Did the Minister say no houses were being built in the large centres of population?

That was the decision reached when the programme was initiated.

I understood that National Building Agency houses were erected for the Garda at Clondalkin, for example?

That is outside the metropolitan district. This restriction is confined to the built-up areas of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.