asked the Minister for the Environment the action it is proposed to take to control the cost of building land.

The question of building land costs is under active examination in my Department. Complex constitutional, legal, administrative and financial factors are involved and careful consideration has to be given to the effects which possible solutions may have on the building and construction industry and on employment in that sector of the economy. As part of the overall assessment, An Foras Forbartha have been asked to study land price trends in the Dublin area and some preliminary information received from them is being studied in my Department.

Would the Minister agree that the reply that has been drafted for him and which he has read out indicates quite clearly the priority and commitment Fianna Fáil have? The problems certainly do arise but am I right in thinking that the Minister says that, because the problems will affect the building industry, the Government will move slowly? In fact, the solution would benefit potential householders. Is it right to assume from the Minister's reply that, because there may be adverse effects on some building contractors, the Government will go slow? Would the Minister agree that he has not once mentioned in his reply the people who cannot afford a house because of land speculation? The Minister should read his reply again and he will see where the emphasis is and how right-wing Fianna Fáil are.

It is something that has to be considered.

The Minister did not once mention the people who cannot afford a house. The reply is scandalous.

In the Minister's consideration of this whole rather vexed question, which is not new, has any real emphasis been given to the obvious: the acquisition and servicing of more land so that there will not be a shortage of it? Is that not the only answer, something which I have been advocating and trying to have done for the last 16 years?

That is so. More and more money is being made available for water and sewerage schemes in order to provide serviced land and this has been happening for the last two years.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister satisfied from the information he has that the prices being charged for sites all over the country are grossly exorbitant and that there is wholesale profiteering in the sale of land for house building? Does the Minister intend to put this problem on the long finger or is he going to do something positive about it now?

I do not intend to put it on the long finger and I am doing something positive about it at present.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister agree that there is not merely a problem but a crisis?

There is a problem but I would not say it is a crisis.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister do something about it now before the people are robbed completely?

I am doing something.

I understand from the Minister's earlier reply that there is a review going on at present. Has the Minister or his Department any proposals to control the cost of building land? I assume they have not. Am I right in that assumption?

The Deputy is wrong. There is an interdepartmental committee studying this at the moment as well as An Foras Forbartha. The Deputy asked me are there any proposals. There will be proposals in the near future.

I am not talking about the hypothetical future; I am talking about the present.

I am talking about the future, the very near future.

The truth is that there are no proposals but the Minister has not got the guts to say so.

Would the Minister explain to the House why a directive came from his Department to Donegal County Council telling them that they should not purchase or invest money in the purchase of building land? This is a clear directive to the county council despite the fact that even members of his own party in the county council agree that land should be bought in the different towns and villages for housing development. Would the Minister now tell the House why he has sent that directive to Donegal County Council?

If the Deputy puts down a question about Donegal I will answer it.

The Minister is now telling the House a lie.

I said that if the Deputy puts down a question I will answer it.

Would the Deputy please withdraw that remark? I would also point out to the Deputy that there is nothing on the Order Paper about Donegal County Council or a directive to them. Therefore, it is a separate question.

I have said the Minister is misleading the House.

The Deputy may put down a separate question. The Deputy said the Minister was telling a lie and he afterwards qualified that by saying that he was misleading the House.

He is purposely misleading the House.

Is the Deputy saying that the Minister is purposely misleading the House? The Deputy must withdraw that.

I have said the Minister is misleading the House. The Minister, through his Department, sent a directive to Donegal County Council directing them not to purchase or invest money in the purchase of land for building houses. That is misleading the House. I do not know what other language I can use.