Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will advise of the status of a CAAS application by an organisation (details supplied) in County Kildare for a community based residential unit for six intellectually disabled clients; when he first received notification from Kildare County Council of this proposed development; if the development was recommended for approval by Kildare County Council; if any issues were raised by him or by Kildare County Council regarding the delivery of this project; the correspondence if any that issued from him relating to this project; the outcome of any meetings held with his officials in relation to this development; if he will now issue approval for the project to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18028/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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The CAS scheme is a devolved programme operated through the housing authorities. As such it is a matter for Kildare County Council to develop its social housing programme and decide on appropriate modes for its delivery, including through the CAS scheme, while taking into account existing funding commitments, available funding resources and specific social housing needs in its area. It is incumbent on the Council and my Department to focus the limited resources presently available towards meeting identified need as soon as possible through the most cost effective solutions.

The application referred to was first received by my Department from Kildare County Council in March 2007. Outstanding documentation required under such an application was subsequently requested from the Council, and submitted to my Department in September 2009.

In April 2010 Kildare County Council wrote to my Department indicating difficulties regarding the scheme, and requesting that no further consideration be given to the proposal in the interim, pending the outcome of discussions between the Council, the developer and the voluntary body. Therefore, approval to proceed with the proposal did not issue from my Department, which understands that there are still a number of outstanding issues which are the subject of discussion between the Council and the voluntary body in an effort to advance the project.