Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I think the Deputy will accept that the figure of €56,000 per house is not acceptable. A further calculation was carried out with the county council to achieve the €8.808 million Exchequer grant. This was agreed in July 2006 and approved by the Department in August. It allows €10,000 each for 99 existing houses in Feakle, 372 existing houses in Scarriff and 351 existing houses in Quilty. An additional allowance of €4,000 will be made for 23 future houses in Feakle, 62 houses in Scarriff and 62 future houses in Quilty. This works out at 40% and is a quick rule of thumb to allow for further expansion in those areas. In the circumstances, a figure of €10,000 per house plus a 40% rule of thumb for expansion is generous.

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