Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I am glad to have the opportunity for the second time in a number of months to bring before the House the request made by Killavullen Housing Association Limited, Killavullen, County Cork, to provide housing for the elderly in the area through local fund-raising and grant aid from the Department. When I raised the matter previously, I was advised that the question of further funding was still being examined by the Department and it appeared that resources were rather scarce. That was not surprising, given the current economic plight of the country and the lack of readily available finance in Departments. However, I hope a scheme such as the Killavullen project, for which the local community has demonstrated the need and there is full support from the county council, in the development of which the HSE has been involved, for which funding has been raised and planning permission sought and obtained, will get the go-ahead at the earliest possible date.

Cork County Council has confirmed the need for such a project in the Killavullen area. As I have said on previous occasions, a local voluntary group has put in much effort and time and shown much commitment to ensure there is adequate local funding available. At this stage the blockage appears to be at departmental level and, presumably, it is a question of funding. However, the clock is ticking and the weeks and months are passing by. We need to know as soon as possible whether there is a possibility of funding being made available. Has all of the available funding been allocated by the Department? It is important that we advise the community properly and channel whatever representations we can to ensure progress is made.

I ask the Minister of State to recognise the validity of the project, the bona fides of the promoters, the excellent work carried out locally, the need for the project and the support of the appropriate statutory agencies and let me know the current thinking on the matter in the Department. I ask her to give us some hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. While, admittedly, we have had a property boom and there is an excess of property in certain areas, there remains and will always remain a need for community and sheltered housing, the maintenance of village communities and the provision of housing for elderly and vulnerable persons.

This is the type of project we should be proud to support. It is a building project that everyone would like to see commence, from a social, an economic and a community point of view. I ask the Minister of State to use her good offices to impress on all within the Department the urgency attached to giving the green light to this valuable project as soon as possible.