andMrs. Burke asked the Minister for Local Government if he will introduce special grants in respect of storm damage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Storm Damage Grants.
136.
Grants towards the cost of repairing storm damage are already available. Payment of these grants is not subject to the restrictions on second grants which govern normal reconstruction grants.
As the two Deputies from the Minister's side of the House who put down this question are not here, could he give some indication to the House as to the extent of these grants and how one applies for them?
In the normal way as if it was a reconstruction grant except that the proviso about it being a second grant does not apply if there is storm damage. It is the same as in the case of an additional requirement for a big family or something like that.
I imagine there are many people in the country who will be interested to know that this grant is available to them. It does not happen very often that we have extensive storm damage. I doubt whether a substantial number of these grants have been paid over the past few years. It is important that we should know——
I was under the impression that every public representative was aware of this. Payment of a second grant at full level is not precluded where storm damage occurs. All they have to do is apply in the normal way as if they were applying for a normal reconstruction grant.
I am asking on behalf of the two Deputies who are not here to ask the relevant questions.
They at least had the interests of their constituents in mind when they put down the question. It is a pity Deputy Molloy did not put down a question and it is rather a pity that he did not know the answers, having been Minister for Local Government for so long.
Of course he knew the answers but he had to drag the answers out of the Minister in the interests of the public.
He did not even know these grants were available.
I wanted to highlight them. There will be a flood of applications if the media give this sufficient publicity.
What are the limits on these grants and how long have they been in operation?
They have been in operation, as far as I am aware, all the time, even when Deputy Blaney——
I introduced them.
——was Minister for Local Government. He should have told his successor.
Were they up-dated since then?
They were up-dated. They are now £200 but Deputy Molloy did not know that and Deputy Blaney should have told him.
I increased them to £200.
The Deputy did not know because he asked me how much they were.
I should like, on behalf of Deputy Gilhawley and Deputy Joan Burke to ask some further supplementaries. The Minister has indicated that the normal reconstruction grants are payable in respect of storm damage situations?
That is correct.
Is it not a fact that there is a certain time limit in regard to reconstruction grants?
Not in this case. The second grant rule does not apply where storm damage is involved.
That is very important. I take it that if it is for storm damage the normal time limitations will not apply?
That is correct and if the house is so badly damaged that it would not be a good idea to repair it there is a grant available to extend its life. That is also a normal grant.
I am certain that Deputy Gilhawley and Deputy Joan Burke will be delighted to hear that.
I am sure they will. That is why they put the Question down.
On the other end of the scale what is the minimum amount?
Under £30 a grant will not apply. If it is a small thing such as a broken window the occupier will have to pay for the damage himself.
If a quarter of the slates on a house were damaged would that qualify.
Yes.
It would cost almost £30 to repair a broken window nowadays.