asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the delay in determining applications for housing grants is very great, and that successful applicants have to wait upwards of six months before receiving their grants, and whether he will take steps to remedy this delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Housing Grants.
Owing to the abnormal number of applications received for housing grants, delay has occurred in dealing with some of them as speedily as I would wish. Additional housing inspectors will be appointed within the next fortnight, and I feel confident that, with this increase in the staff, it will be possible to deal without delay with all applications.
Has the Minister had regard to the latter part of my question in which I raised the case of persons whose grants have been sanctioned but who are unable to get the money out of the Department? When one writes to inquire the reason for the delay in paying a grant which is admittedly due, one always gets a courteous postcard, and then one may wait from six to eight weeks to get a full answer to one's inquiry. Surely such delay is indefensible.
Is it not on the certificate of the architect or engineer to the board of health that the Local Government Department sanctions the grant and pays it? I cannot see how the appointment of more inspectors by the Local Government Department affects the matter, because Local Government inspectors do not go into the question at all.
The Deputy does not know what he is talking about.
I know that no house can be built unless the plans have been approved of by the board of health engineer or architect. It is on his certificate that the houses are completed and fit for habitation that the grant is paid. I am afraid the Minister does not know what he is talking about.
Will the Minister look into the question I raised?
Certainly.