asked the Minister for Local Government if he will explain the delay in payment of a supplementary housing grant to a qualified applicant (name supplied) in Finglas, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Grants.
51.
I understand from Dublin Corporation that they did not receive the notification, sent by my Department, that the balance of the State grant was recently paid in this case. A copy of that notification has now issued to the corporation which will enable them to pay the supplementary grant at an early date.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the delay in this case was due to the fact that the inspectorial staff in his Department is not adequate to cope with all the applications? That is the reason why delays occur.
I would not agree because I am told that it was issued on the 28th May but it did not reach the corporation from my Department.
52.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will arrange payment, as soon as possible, of State building grants to the Templemore Co-operative Building Society, County Tipperary.
Arrangements have been made to have the houses inspected this week with a view to the allocation and payment of grants, if in order.
53.
asked the Minister for Local Government if a grant will be paid to a person (name supplied) in respect of the fitting of new aluminium windows to a house at Walkinstown, Dublin 12.
The house will be inspected this week to determine if the work proposed is necessary to make the house more suitable for habitation, and the allocation of a grant will be determined in the light of the inspector's report.
54.
asked the Minister for Local Government if it is proposed to make supplementary grants available to persons purchasing flats or maisonettes.
Under section 27 of the Housing Act, 1966, a housing authority may make supplementary grants to a person erecting flats or maisonettes for which State grants have been paid. It is open to the housing authority in making their grants to impose such conditions as they think fit, including a condition that the flats or maisonettes be sold only to persons who would qualify for supplementary new house grants.
I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary if it is proposed to encourage this type of development? I gather that, with the changing structure of the world, this type of development is becoming more universe. I should like to know if the Government will encourage it?
Yes.