asked the Minister for Local Government the total capital allocation made available by him to each housing authority for the construction of local authority houses in 1977; and if he will state in respect of each housing authority (a) the amount made available to meet commitments on the 1st January 1977 and (b) the amount made available to enable commencement works to be undertaken during 1977.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Local authority housing—capital allocations for 1977 made up to 30th March, 1977.

NOTES:

1. The allocations notified for new work are in respect of works advertised for tender at 22nd March, 1977, and for individual rural cottages and demountable dwellings to be commenced by 30th June, 1977.

2. Allocations generally will be reviewed after 30th June, 1977, and further allocations may be made, following the review, to cover expenditure on additional starts to be authorised later in the year.

Is the Minister aware that many housing authorities are completely dissatisfied with their allocations this year and that it will not be possible for them to make any more starts with a view to completion before Christmas this year due to the small capital allocation?

The Deputy must not have his facts right or he would not have asked that supplementary because, in fact, money was given for commitments and money for new works and they were told that in June a further allocation would be considered according to how they were getting on. In the case of Kerry County Council in 1972-73 they got only £449,000; in 1973-74, £585,000; in 1974, £715,000; in 1975, £1,372,000; in 1976, £1,710,000 and in 1977 to date £1,080,000. How Deputy O'Leary can say that enough money has not been given—I assume he is talking about Kerry—beats me when the allocations have gone from £449,000 to an instalment for the first three months of £1,080,000.

You were short about 5,000 houses last year.

Order, that is a separate matter.

No, the 5,000 houses are in the imagination of some people who write to the newspapers.

Is the Minister aware that there are many local authorities who cannot start any more houses until they get the June allocation?

Would the Deputy mention the local authorities he is talking about?

Question No. 27.

Further, can the Minister——

I have given the Deputy a good deal of latitude.

I have only asked two supplementary questions.

It is at the discretion of the Chair. I shall allow the Deputy a final question.

Will the Minister allow the housing authorities to resume their house building programme and build for those on the priority list?

I am so doing and Deputy O'Leary should be aware of that. I am surprised at somebody on the Opposition benches talking about building more local authority houses. Up to last year, apparently, the complaint was that we were building too many local authority houses.

Do I gather from the Minister——

Question No. 28.

——that he will allow the housing authorities to resume their house building programme?

Not resume. They are continuing their housing programme. Deputy O'Leary should go back to Kerry County Council and they will enlighten him as to the enormous amount of money they have already got this year.

Is the Minister aware——

Order.

——that Kerry County Council cannot start any more houses at the moment due to the serious financial position?

The Deputy may not ignore the Chair. The Deputy will resume his seat. Resume your seat, Deputy.

This is a very important question.

Is the Deputy going to resume his seat?

This is a very important question in relation to housing.

I have allowed the Deputy every latitude. Next question.