asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that, under the existing system for the payment of grants under the Housing Acts, delays of some months are liable to occur after the completion of the work before payment is made, particularly in relation to reconstruction grants, and whether, in view of this unsatisfactory state of affairs, he will issue instructions to appointed officers to deal more expeditiously with the issuing of appropriate certificates to applicants for new houses and in reconstruction cases to enable applicants to claim payment immediately the work is completed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Housing Grants.
Mr. Murphy
The need for expedition in dealing with applications for grants has already been made quite clear to inspectors and appointed officers. I am glad to be able to assure the Deputy that both the intern and extern aspects of grant administration are being accelerated to the utmost.
Mr. Murphy
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware of the undue delay on the part of certain public utility societies in having grants which have been paid by his Department under the Housing Acts transmitted to applicants and if he will arrange to bring to the special notice of all such societies the desirability of passing the appropriate grants to the applicants immediately on receipt of the pay order from the Department.
I have no specific information of undue delay on the part of public utility societies generally in transmitting to their members housing grants paid by my Department, nor have I any functions in relation to the conduct of the business of the societies. If there is any such delay in particular cases it is open to the members of the society concerned to raise the matter at a general meeting of the society.