Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1452: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when grant approval will be given to proceed to tender and contract stage for a housing project which is being carried out in partnership with the Health Service Executive and Cork County Council in view of the fact that the association has secured an appropriate site and relevant approvals including full planning permission for the project and are now awaiting grant approval to proceed to tender and contract stage. [32121/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Despite the current challenges facing the public finances, my Department continues to prioritise and support the voluntary and co-operative housing sector as it addresses housing need across the country, and in particular as it meets the needs of individuals and groups with special needs.

In addition to the broad programme of Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) projects already under construction, in January 2010 I announced a further programme of 64 projects to deliver over 900 new units of accommodation over a two year period. This ambitious programme of new projects was identified following consideration of each proposal received, the relative priority afforded to the projects by the local authorities concerned and the competing demands across all local authorities.

The project in question, twenty units for older people at Killavullen, Co. Cork, was not included in the overall programme for 2010 primarily because it was not afforded a sufficiently high priority by Cork County Council. It remains a matter for Cork County Council to submit it as a priority project under any future call for proposals for new construction projects. The more recent call for proposals was a special measure to facilitate the voluntary and co-operative sector in taking advantage of favourable market conditions and to purchase newly built properties or properties nearing completion. As a new construction project, these twenty houses at Killavullen do not fall into this category. Having regard to then available resources, I expect to issue a further call for new construction projects in 2011 at which time Cork County Council may wish to submit the project concerned for consideration.