Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will give a comprehensive update on the application under the remedial works scheme by Westmeath County Council to affect the refurbishment of houses (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if in particular, in view of the success of the initial phase of the scheme, he will ensure that the necessary finance is provided to ensure that the other phases of the scheme can now proceed without further delay as the residents have been waiting for a considerable period of time to have these houses which were erected in the seventies refurbished in an appropriate fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12677/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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A pilot phase of the scheme in question was completed in 2007. The local authority sought approval in March 2007 to extend the pilot phase using the existing contractor. For reasons of public procurement the Department was not able to accede to this request. In the context of the overall Master Plan for the estate the Department also asked the authority to advance the provision of new housing as a means of allowing the refurbishment of the existing houses to proceed in larger phases. It is a matter for the housing authority to submit revised proposals to my Department to enable the project to proceed and I understand the Council will be making a submission in this regard in the near future.