asked the Minister for Local Government whether special consideration is being given to the provision of small type dwelling houses for elderly couples and persons living in remote areas; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.

I have been giving special consideration for some time past to the problem of providing satisfactory housing accommodation for elderly persons and families living in remote areas where there is no prospect of a continuing need for a normal type of cottage.

My Department, in conjunction with a number of housing authorities, has been endeavouring to evolve a prototype design of a low-cost demountable dwelling which would be suitable for such locations. While much progress has been made in this connection, I am not yet in a position to make a general statement in the matter.

Is the Minister not aware that at least one county council has been operating such a scheme very satisfactorily for a number of years, with grants from his Department?

I am so aware.

Why, then, suggest that the Department are trying to make up a scheme which they hope to put into operation when, in fact, the houses the Minister talks about have successfully been used for some time?

Because the Department are trying to evolve a prototype design of a low-cost demountable dwelling which would be suitable for this purpose.

It is in use and the Minister's Department have been paying grants for it for a number of years.

My Department may think it can be improved upon.

Would the forthcoming elections have anything to do with the matter?

If that is the Minister's policy, would he consider the situation of elderly people, notably retired gardeners, and so on, who want to build a small house for themselves and who find the limitation of 1,500 square feet to be in excess of their requirements and are thus debarred from getting housing grants? Would the Minister consider facilitating that category of persons in relation to the building of houses for elderly people?

They are facilitated. The limitation of 1,500 square feet is the upper not the lower limitation.

What is the lower limitation?

Five hundred square feet.

Perhaps that is the figure I have in mind which may be in excess of the needs of an elderly couple. Would the Minister consider making available to them some scale of grants to enable them to build a house for themselves?

I am considering that.

31.

asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the delay in sanctioning the scheme submitted by Mayo County Council for the provision of small houses for elderly persons whose dwellings cannot be repaired under the essential repairs schemes.

I am not aware of any undue delay in sanctioning this scheme. I gave approval last December to the council's proposals, regarding a pilot scheme of four special small dwellings for elderly persons, which were submitted to my Department last October. Proposals for the building of 150 similar dwellings, within the next three and a half years, were submitted by the council on 5th ultimo and are at present under examination in my Department. A decision will be given by me as soon as possible.

I hope the decision will be given in the near future. This matter has been hanging fire for about a year.

That is a speech, not a question.