354 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when funding will be made available for a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2053/11]

My Department's involvement with voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

It is thus a matter for each local authority to prioritise voluntary housing projects for funding under my Department's capital funding schemes. The project in question was not included in the work programme for 2010 primarily because it was not afforded a sufficiently high priority by Mayo County Council. It is intended to issue a call for proposals in the course of 2011 for new voluntary housing projects for inclusion in the work programme. It will be a matter for Mayo County Council to prioritise projects locally having regard to the relative merit of any proposals received and the extent to which they meet housing need.