asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state why the reconstruction grant authorised for a person in Danesfort, Kiltegan, County Wicklow, has not been paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wicklow Reconstruction Grant.
The delay in dealing with certain housing grants in the Wicklow area, including that of the applicant referred to, was due to the illness of the inspector for this area. The substitute inspector has recently reported on the case in question, and it will be possible to deal with it in the near future.
Can the Minister explain how it was that his Department told me that there was no such application in the Department?
The Minister can explain this case in the same way as he explained a previous case to the Deputy. The application was made some time in 1951 to the Kildare County Council, as was then the practice.
The Kildare County Council never dealt with Wicklow.
The Wicklow County Council, I should say. The application did not reach my Department until more than 12 months afterwards, and we had no knowledge even of its existence. It was because of that system that much of this confusion to which Deputies often refer arose.
Is the Minister aware that my inquiry was made on the same day as the day I put down the question and that I have here a communication from his own Department dated 8th October, 1952? Doeshe not think the Department might wake up in a period of seven months?
I do not know what communication the Deputy is referring to.
It is a communication headed "Department of Local Government, Custom House, Dublin."
I am talking of the facts as I know them.
I have the facts here, too. Somebody is trying to conceal them from you.