143 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for the Environment the number of persons awaiting re-housing in Portlaoise. County Laois; the number of houses to be built in 1996, including maisonettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11506/96]

Laois County Council is the housing authority for Portlaoise. The return from the council on the assessment of housing needs at 29 March 1996 has not yet been received in my Department. When all the returns have been received and collated, the results of the assessment will be published in the Department's Housing Statistics Bulletin, copies of which will be placed in the Oireachtas Library.

Laois County Council recently completed six two storey three bedroom semi-detached houses in Portlaoise and are ready to go to tender for six similar houses there as part of their 1996 programme.