asked the Minister for Local Government why a reconstruction grant and water and sewerage grants have not been paid to a person (name supplied) in County Sligo; and why a housing inspector has not called to the applicant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House and Reconstruction Grants.
67.
The reconstruction grant was not paid in this case because defects in the work, which were first reported to the applicant on 26th May, 1971, had not been rectified. The Department's inspector has already been instructed to inspect and report on the water and sewerage grant application. The latest inspection of the house was made in November 1971, after which the applicant was advised of the outstanding works.
68.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the delay in the payment of new house and reconstruction grants by his Department.
There is no undue delay generally in the payment of new house and reconstruction grants by my Department. In particular cases delay may occur where work is not completed in accordance with grant requirements or the applicant otherwise fails to comply with conditions governing the payment of grants. Difficulty has been experienced in recruiting inspectors for this work but four extra inspectors were recently assigned to housing grant work to assist in dealing with the sharp upward trend in the number of grant payments for new houses in the current financial year. If the Deputy has any particular cases in mind, I will have the matter investigated on receiving details.
Will the Minister not agree that the payments to people who have erected houses and reconstructed houses have slowed up considerably? Is this a seasonal thing or would the Minister recommend that questions should be put down for each individual case?
Some delays may have been experienced in the November-December period. This was due mainly to a very marked increase in the number of cases maturing for payment, to some indoor staff changes, and the extra work in the short-term arising from the introduction of management by objectives in the housing grants section which took some people away from that work. Generally speaking there has been no delay in the payment of grants. If there are individual cases Deputies can write to me. In those cases about which Deputies have written to me they have got satisfaction.
Would the Minister not agree that it is adding a lot of work to him and his staff if we have to raise this matter with him? Should it not be possible to get a reply in the normal way either by phoning or writing to his Department? Is he aware that this month is the worst month for payments that has occurred since he became Minister?
I do not accept that any great delay has been caused. We have been very expeditious in the payments and, if we are a week later now, I do not think that is very serious.
Not a week but a month, six weeks and two months.
69.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will explain the delay in the payment of a new house grant for an applicant in County Offaly (name supplied) for which the certificate of approval (No. A.O. 3185) was dated 14th July, 1969; if he will now make arrangements for the payment of this grant which is considered to be long overdue despite numerous representations in the matter.
The new house grant was paid in this case on 27th May, 1970. As the house was not then provided with a piped water supply and sewerage system, the grant paid was that appropriate to an unserviced house. Services have since been installed, the water supply being provided by the Ballinagar group water supply scheme. The applicant has been requested to forward the usual authorisation to allow the water supply grant to be paid in care of the trustees of the group. Arrangements are also being made to pay the £25 sewerage grant directly to the applicant.
70.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether it is the income for the year ended on the date of application or the date of commencement of work on a new house or for the financial year that is taken into account when considering applications for the higher rate of new house grant.
The assessment of income for the purpose of the payment of the special rate of new house grant is primarily a matter for the local housing authority. However, an applicant's annual income is generally regarded as being that for the financial or tax year preceding the date of application for the grant.