May I ask the Minister if he is happy that a 9 per cent increase in the capital allocation to Dublin Corporation is sufficient in view of the fact that the inflation rate in housing costs in the first six months of his administration was more than 20 per cent?

I would be happy if I could have increased it to 90 per cent, as the Deputy said, but I was unable to do so.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It is not hard to make the Minister happy when he is happy with the toilet situation in Dublin city.

Can the Minister assure us that there will not be a decrease in the housing output of Dublin Corporation this year?

I hope there will not be a decrease in the number of houses. The corporation received one third of the total national allocation this year.

Is the Minister not aware that the 9 per cent increase is less than half the percentage increase in housing costs in six months? Does it not naturally follow that there will be a decrease in local authority housing?

I made 9 per cent more capital available to Dublin Corporation this year and I expect that they will at least equal the number of houses they built last year.

I want to ask the Minister——

Would the Deputy please resume his seat?

The Minister did not answer the question.

I am asking the Deputy to please resume his seat.

This is very important.

No matter how important it is the Deputy will resume his seat and let the House proceed to the next question.

I appreciate you are being very generous today but——

Question No. 24.