asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the delay in giving sanction to the Kilkenny County Council for the raising of £30,000 for the repair of lanes.

Having regard to the necessity to conserve available capital for housing and other essential services, approval to the raising by local authorities of loans for works of a miscellaneous nature, such as the project mentioned, can be given only where it is established that there is a genuine and urgent need for the proposed work. I am not satisfied that such a need exists in this case.

Why was this sanctioned last year, was not sanctioned in the previous two years and has not been sanctioned this year?

For the same reason— the necessity to conserve this type of money for housing and other essential services.

There was necessity last year then?

There is necessity all the time.

Why was it sanctioned last year and not for the previous two years and not for this year?

It had nothing to do with the general election anyway.

It was the general election.

No one would ever suggest that.

Taking into consideration the fact that local improvement grants for Kilkenny are the lowest in the country, would the Minister not give consideration to this loan which the county council are raising themselves?

The local improvements grants are related to the previous use of the scheme in the particular county and, generally speaking, they reflect the need there is for this type of work in the county.

All members of the Kilkenny County Council are unanimous that this should be raised.

I am quite well aware of that but, in circumstances in which there is such a continuing heavy demand for capital for housing and water and sewerage schemes, it is not feasible to allocate capital resources for this type of project.

We, in Kilkenny, are prepared to allocate this.

Yes, but houses come first as far as I am concerned.

We will build the houses. We are only waiting for sanction for houses.

(Cavan): Would the Minister not think it a reasonable proposition to hold that there is not much use in building houses along these lanes if people cannot get into them and out of them with some degree of comfort? Until these grants are extended, or this loan is permitted, it will not be possible to make these lanes to enable egress and ingress to the houses.

The grants under the local improvements scheme are allocated in accordance with the previous performance of the different counties. I think that is the fairest way to do it. Generally speaking, it reflects the amount of this type of work requiring to be done in these counties.

(Cavan): Surely the Minister is aware that the backlog which has accumulated in his Department has not yet been cleared?

That is a different question.