asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the date on which an applicant (name supplied) notified his Department of the completion of the work for his housing grant, the date of inspection, and when the grant will be paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Grant.
52.
Notification of the completion of the work in the case referred to by the Deputy has not been received in my Department. Notification that the house had been roofed was received on the 15th December, 1959, and the house was inspected on the 11th January, 1960. The claim for payment duly completed by the applicant was received in the Department towards the end of January and payment of the instalment recommended by the Inspector has been made to the applicant.
Could the Minister say the date on which it was made?
I am afraid I cannot.
Would the Minister be aware that on the date this question was put down, the Department told me it was not paid?
Therefore, what the Department tells the Deputy and what they tell me is another matter?
(Interruptions.)
May I direct the attention of the Taoiseach to the statement which has just been made by the Minister for Local Government and which is a gross slander on the officials of that Department?
Without any reference as to where he got his information, other than that it was from the Department, the Deputy has made a statement here which I cannot stand over and of which I have no knowledge. Therefore, I have said that what the Deputy has been told is not necessarily what I am informed.
That is a gross slander.
What is the slander?
That the officials do not tell the truth.
The possibility is that the Deputy may be the person who is not quite accurate in what he says.
The Minister is perfectly entitled to suggest anything he likes in that respect but he is not entitled to suggest that the officials in his Department do not tell the truth.
In reply to the question, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I want to draw the attention of the House to the fact that Deputy Sweetman's imputation is, or was, that this grant was not paid and I want to say again that it was paid.
Will the Minister tell me the date on which it was paid?
Question No. 53.
Surely the Deputy does not expect the Minister to know the date on which every payment of every grant was made?
I guarantee that it is on the Minister's file, but the Minister will not disclose it.
It is not.
It is on the Minister's file.
If the Deputy likes he can see it.
It is always put on the Minister's file.
Question No. 53.
On a point of order, might I inquire from the Chair whether it is in order for a Minister to indicate to a Deputy soliciting information that what he says is one thing and what his Department says is another thing?
Question No. 53.