asked the Minister for the Environment when sanction for the housing scheme proposal by Ballina Urban District Council, County Mayo will be given, the amount of finance being made available and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I assume the Deputy is referring to the proposed scheme of 44 houses to be built by the National Building Agency for Ballina Urban District Council at Bunree Road, Ballina.

Approval to the acceptance of a tender in this case was conveyed to the agency on 13 February last and the urban council was informed accordingly on the same date. An application for capital funds to finance work on this scheme in the current year has been received from the council. This application must be considered in the context of the amount of capital available for new work, the number of schemes in progress or approved for construction at the present time and the priority rating of the scheme. I cannot say when I will be in a position to convey a decision to the housing authority on their application for funds to start this scheme.

Will the Minister say when the capital allocation was received from his office by the Ballina Urban Council?

On 14 March last the council were allocated £135,000 to meet outstanding liabilities on all completed schemes.

My question was, when did the Minister's office receive application in respect of the 44 houses which are to be built?

I have not got that information.

The Minister said that he was not in a position to give any indication of the amount of money which would be available or indeed if any money would be available. Could he tell me if at this stage, with five-twelfths of the year gone, he could give any indication of when a decision on the amount of money available may be notified to the respective local authorities in respect of capital allocation for 1980?

I am not in a position to say that at present.

Is the Minister serious in saying that at the end of May 1980 he is not in a position to notify local authorities about new staff this year?

I am not in a position at present to say that.

Does the Minister regard that as satisfactory?

Question No. 44.

There are 44 tenants awaiting houses in my town. Is the Minister not in a position, at this stage of the year, to say when he might be in a position to give us information on our allocation for 1980?

As far as I can see the Deputy's county council have been doing very well. The capital allocation in 1975 was £99,000, in 1976, £329,000, in 1977, £654,000 and in 1978 it was £525,000. They have been getting a lot of money.

What is the position about this year?

It has not been allocated to any corporation or county council yet.

Can the Minister tell me when county councils might know?

In due course.

I have called Question No. 44.

This is a ludicrous situation.

You have called Question No. 44 with the precise effect, whatever your intentions are, of protecting the Minister.

Will the Deputy not make that charge against the Chair? That charge should not be made against the Chair. My job is to protect the Deputies of this House, to see that their questions are answered. We are dealing with questions from Roscommon, Mayo and other places. Deputies should respect the Chair.

Without disrespect to the Chair, I am saying that the effect of your decision is to protect the Minister.

That is a charge against the Chair and it should not be made. I am not here to protect anybody except the Deputies of the House. I have called Question No. 44.

I am saying that the effect of your decision has been to protect the Minister who evaded answering the questions of my colleague, Deputy O'Toole.

Deputy O'Toole asked four or five supplementary questions. It was Deputy O'Toole's question and I am not responsible for the answers.

I got no answers.

I am not responsible for the answers. Question Time should proceed without all this hassle about it. I have called Question No. 44.