asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to meet Mallow Urban District Council, County Cork, representatives to discuss their proposal to build 16 houses which are needed for the elderly people of Mallow.

As has been stated in replies to a number of recent questions, it is not possible to indicate what funds will be available to individual housing authorities this year and, consequently, what new schemes may be approved pending the completion of the examination of the capital claims submitted by each housing authority for its housing construction programme. I hope to notify the 1988 allocations to authorities shortly.

In these circumstances the reception of a deputation as proposed would serve no useful purpose.