asked the Minister for the Environment if he will allocate sufficient finance for the provision during 1980 of the proposed new housing scheme in Castlebar, County Mayo.

I presume the Deputy is referring to the proposed 52 house scheme at Knockthomas, Castlebar, to be built by the National Building Agency Limited for Castlebar Urban District Council.

I understand that advertising of the scheme for tenders has been delayed due to difficulties in acquiring the necessary land for an entrance road to the scheme, and so the question of the provision of a capital allocation does not arise at this stage.

If it goes to tender will the Minister give an assurance that the necessary finance will be forthcoming?

It would appear from the present position that finance will not be needed this year. It rests with the council at present.

If circumstances change and the scheme goes for tender will the Minister give an assurance that the necessary finance will be forthcoming immediately.

We will have a look at it when that time comes.

That is not an assurance that money will be forthcoming.

Finance will be made available but it is a question of when they accept the tender and that will take quite a while. It will probably not be this year.