Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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141. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo County Council purchased a house in 2015 to house a family (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the council sought approval for funding from his Department in October 2015 to construct an extension to the house in compliance with the recommendation of the HSE’s occupational therapy service; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the family will not be allowed to move into the house until such time as the extension is constructed; if it normally takes 15 months for his Department to process and approve funding for such extensions, when it is expected that a decision will be made on the council’s submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3351/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department received a submission from Sligo County Council on 31 March 2016 seeking funding for the proposed extension referred to in the Question. Following assessment by my Department’s inspectorate, approval in principle to proceed was issued to the Council on 15 August 2016. I understand from the Council that the provision of the extension is being prioritised within their projects on hands and that the Council will expedite the design and planning phase so as to allow construction to begin as soon as possible.