asked the Minister for Local Government why applicants for new housing grants, reconstruction grants and water and sewerage grants in County Meath have to wait several months for inspection and even longer periods for payment of the grants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Meath Grants.
12.
I do not agree that the position is as suggested by the Deputy.
Would the Minister not agree that when applications are received by his Department for grants, no inspector is available to examine the proposed building for several months after the application goes in, that since February of this year, only a very small number of people have been paid the grants in Meath, and that in fact some of them have been waiting for payment for as long as six months? Could the Minister explain why that is so?
I do not think that is so. There may have been some cases of delay, as the Deputy knows, during a certain period when it was necessary to make inquiries as to whether rates were being withheld in connection with an illegal no-rates campaign, but, apart from that, there are no abnormal delays.
Is the Minister not aware that I have sent at least a dozen queries in the past two months to his Department and that so far only in one case has any money been received?
That may be because the work is not complete.
Does the Minister want a list of the persons who have not been paid, and if I supply him with such a list, will he have it investigated, because somebody is slipping up?
Certainly, if there are any cases of delay of the length the Deputy has stated, I should like to have a look at it.
A man called John Curtis built a house six months ago and it was inspected.
Maybe it is not properly completed.
Your inspector said it was and he should know. You have not got the money.
Oh, yes we have.