asked the Minister for the Environment when he received the contract documents for approval from Kildare County Council for phase two of stage two of the Lower Liffey Valley sewerage scheme which is to augment the sewerage system at Kilcock; and when he will make a decision on these documents.

Contract documents for this scheme were received in my Department in October 1977. Having regard to the large programme of works in progress in County Kildare I cannot say at this stage when I will be in a position to convey a decision to the local authority on the scheme, the documents for which are under consideration in my Department.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister realise that this is the third question on the same topic within the last week which he has answered by saying that the documents are under consideration in his Department and that he cannot say when sanction will be given? Is it not clear that there is no money in the Minister's Department and that these very essential rural sewerage schemes are being stalled in a most disgraceful way?

There was a vast increase in the amounts of money made available this year throughout the country and County Kildare did remarkably well in this regard.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Voting money is one matter but allocating it and spending it is another. This is the third scheme that has been held up, the others being in Bawnboy, County Cavan and in County Tipperary. Would the Minister not take off the brakes and release the money?

I have released the money to a far greater extent than was the case in 1977 when my predecessor was in office.

(Cavan-Monaghan): This is the test.

I have been calling Question No. 10.

Is the Minister aware that a lot of building is being held up in the area referred to because of the lack of a sewerage scheme and that, consequently, there is a loss of employment? It is very important that money for the scheme be released.

It will be released, perhaps, when the next batch of schemes is being released.

(Cavan-Monaghan): When will that be?

I have called Question No. 10.

As a member of a Government that promised to get the country moving again, has the Minister any proposal to speed up the procedure in relation to decisions on items such as this?

That is a separate question.

The procedure has been speeded up. A greater number of schemes was released this year compared with the previous year. There is more money available this year for this work.

Why, then, did the Minister answer in such a manner?

Surely the Deputy realises that not all schemes can be released at the same time.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Counties Cavan, Tipperary and Kildare are all in the same position in that schemes in each of these areas are being held up.

We must move on to the next question.

County Kildare has done remarkably well.