asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of money being made available from the local loans fund in the present year to Dublin County Council for its various housing purposes; and how this compares with last year's allocation.

On the 25th March last I notified Dublin County Council of an allocation of £2.7 million for the payment of house purchase loans and supplementary grants in the current financial year. This compares with a capital allocation of £1.1 million for these services in 1969-70.

A provisional allocation to cover local authority housing commitments only is made at the beginning of each financial year and further allocations are made from time to time during the year as new work matures for commencement. Provisional allocations have not yet been made in respect of the current financial year but will be made shortly. The total amount allocated to Dublin County Council in 1969-70 for local authority housing was £850,000.

Local authorities are expected to finance part of their allocation from sources other than the Local Loans Fund.

I asked the Minister what proportion of this money was coming from the Local Loans Fund but the Minister has not answered that question.

It has not been decided yet but in common with other housing authorities the county council will be expected to raise an amount equivalent to at least 10 per cent of the allocation from sources other than the Local Loans Fund. In addition to that it is expected that building societies and insurance companies will make up to £200,000 available.

Can the Minister not tell me what amount was subscribed from the Local Loans Fund for housing last year?

I did not appreciate that that was exactly what the Deputy wanted to know.

That is what I want to know.

Last year the sum was £.9 million out of a total of £1.1 million.