Is it true that in some local authority areas there is a serious shortage of local authority housing whereas in other areas that may not be the case? Would he accept that the Galway Corporation area is one in which there is an urgent need for housing? Can he explain why his office have not authorised the construction of any new local authority houses in that area over the past three years?

I accept that some local authorities have a bigger problem than others. As the Deputy quite rightly said, some authorities do not seem to have a problem at all. With the resources available to us we try to adjust the start-ups in those authority areas. That causes some problems for me on occasion. People ask why we are not allocating the money evenly. The reason is that some areas are not as critical as others.

There has been no construction in Galway for three years. Why is that?

Deputy Farrelly.

Following on the Minister's reply in which he said that in 1982 there were——

Is the Deputy talking about the county borough of Galway?

Yes.

The Deputy is quite right in so far as 1986 and 1987 are concerned, but for 1988 the figure is 20.

There were no start-ups——

Question Time is becoming very unwieldy. I had called Deputy Farrelly, and he was on his feet.

I wish to get the facts right from the Minister. I am not going to delay the House.

It is the parliamentary smog that is causing the confusion.

The scheme of 20 houses in the city has not started yet. They are for elderly people.

This can be raised at another time.

No new houses are being built for families and children.

Deputy Farrelly has been called.