asked the Minister for the Environment when he will be in a position to announce the housing allocation for County Donegal.

33.

asked the Minister for the Environment when Donegal County Council will be in a position to accept further tenders for specific instance and small farmers' houses.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 33 together.

On 21 December 1982, my Department sought applications from all housing authorities for capital allocations to finance on-going commitments on their 1983 housing programmes, including the provision of rural houses. Applications received are being examined in my Department at present and a decision on the initial allocations will be made by me when the examination of claims has been completed.

The question of the acceptance by Donegal County Council of further tenders for rural houses is primarily a matter for the council themselves, having regard to the amount of capital available for their housing programme and provided that the normal procedures governing the provision of local authority houses are complied with.

In view of the fact that we have in excess of 800 applications for houses between SI houses, SF houses, multiple dwellings and local authority houses will the Minister give an assurance that for 1983 our grant will be increased?

It would be premature to do so until the claims are processed and I have had an opportunity to study them.

Donegal County Council were not in a position to tender for houses last year. This information must be available to the Department at this stage.

What is the on-going commitment for houses under construction at present?

In 1982 the allocation was £4.8 million. An estimated 161 houses were completed and 301 were in progress.