Blaney, Neil T.C.

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Water and Sewerage Schemes.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 8 and 9 together.

No proposal from Kerry County Council to raise a supplementary loan of £7,300 to defray expenditure on the Annascaul sewerage scheme has been received in my Department.

Loan applications in the sum of £132,000 for the Ardfert scheme and £22,000 for the Fenit sewerage scheme are at present under consideration in my Department in conjunction with an exam...

I am not so aware. Kerry County Council will be informed shortly of the amount of money to be allocated to them this year for water and sewerage schemes.

They will be informed fairly soon.

Yes.

The carrying out of Emlaghmore group water scheme is dependent on the implementation by Kerry County Council of the Emlaghmore regional water supply scheme, preliminary proposals for which were sub...

Knightstown, Valentia, water scheme has been fully approved by my Department. A proposal to raise a loan of £57,000 to finance the scheme is under consideration in conjunction with an examin...

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Water Scheme.

A proposal from Meath County Council to meet the cost of certain alterations to the design of the Ballinaclose group water scheme out of borrowed moneys is at present under consideration in my Dep...

I hope to be in a position to convey a decision in the matter to the local authority shortly.

It is being speeded up. What the Deputy omitted to say was that there have been certain amendments to the scheme. They have given rise to most of the delay now complained of. These amendments wil...

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sligo Housing Proposals.

Outline plans for a scheme of 82 houses in Sligo are at present before my Department. A decision on these plans will be given shortly.

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Loans.

Loans have already been sanctioned which will enable the council to draw as required on the full amount of their capital allocation for house-purchase loans for the current financial year. £...

I am not responsible for statements made at any of these meetings.

All I can say is I would rather the Deputy would accept my statement, but that is a matter for his choice.

I have been notified by the council that they propose to proceed with 22 rural cottages, including four cottages under the small farmers scheme, on the basis of their provisional capital allocation...

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Listowel Cottage.

A revised estimate has not been submitted to my Department in this case.

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of Pension Books.

I would not agree that over-long delays occur in deciding pension appeals generally. In certain cases, for example where information required by the appeals officer involves further investigation ...

A pension book is normally issued to the pensioner in a matter of days where the appeal is decided in his favour.

I would, but I would request on behalf of the Minister that notice of such delays should be sent to him much sooner than a month if it is possible for Deputies to do so.

Having regard to the large number of pension books handled by my Department it is inevitable that there should be occasional delays in individual cases. The percentage is small however and where a...