asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding delays in processing applications for (i) reconstruction and improvement grants; (ii) £1,000 new house grants, within his Department; and the steps which are being taken by him to improve the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Local Authority Grants .
20.
: As I explained in reply to Question No. 141 on 8 June, the response to the greatly increased house improvements grants, which I introduced in December 1977, has been quite unprecedented. Since the beginning of the present year 15,517 applications have been received, as compared with 7,654 in the corresponding period in 1977. Applications from the Dublin area have trebled.
Inevitably, there have been some delays in processing this huge increase in the volume of applications. However, as I indicated in my reply to the previous question, additional administrative and technical staff have been assigned to the work. Arrangements have been made to recruit more inspectors, and serving inspectors are working overtime. I am confident that these measures will progressively reduce and eliminate delays in dealing with applications.
As far as the second part of the question is concerned, the number of applications being made to my Department for the £1,000 new house grants is continuing at a high level-- being about four times the number of applications which were being received under the old scheme this time last year. While I am keeping the position under review, I am satisfied that generally there are now no undue delays in the processing of these applications.
: What is the longest delay that might occur in an application being dealt with?
: There are a number of factors involved. If a house qualifies for a CRV the grant can be dealt with more speedily than in the case of a house that does not so qualify.
: But how long might a person wait from the date of application until the grant is paid?
: One factor that would enter into this is the length of time taken to complete a house. Some houses are completed in average time but others take much longer to complete.
: How many weeks' delay would be involved?
: After the application is received there is the initial inspection. Then the work must be carried out. In addition some people qualify for the grant in a shorter time than is the case in respect of others.
: Can I recall to the Minister that approximately six months ago he told us that the average delay was seven weeks? Is he aware that his Department are telling telephone callers that there is a delay of approximately 16 weeks before approval and of another five to six weeks before the money is actually paid, which means a total of five months? What has the Minister to say to that?
: I am not aware that people have been told this recently. It took quite a while to get the thing in order because of the massive increase in the number of applications, which is understandable. When the Deputy speaks about 16 weeks and five weeks is he talking about a reconstruction grant or a new house grant?
: A reconstruction and improvement grant on an existing house.
: What does the 16 weeks apply to?
: From the date of the application of the grant to the date of payment.
: Surely five months is not an extraordinary length of time to do the work, not to talk about getting paid?
: We can agree to differ on that. I consider it an extraordinary length of time. How many extra staff has the Minister recruited for the purpose of processing those two types of grants?
: As I said, in reply to an earlier supplementary, if the Deputy puts down a question I will answer it.
: This is a reasonable supplementary.
: I have increased the number of staff. I do not have the actual number with me. I will have the information conveyed to Deputy Keating and Deputy Mitchell.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Am I right in thinking that as a result of the change in the system of grants the local authorities have been relieved of a considerable amount of work in connection with housing inspection for grants? Could the Minister arrange to use some of the local authority staff as his agents to carry out some of the inspections in connection with those grant applications and in that way speed up the payment of grants?
: It has not meant a tremendous saving of local staff because under the old system a local authority were notified when a payment was made. The work had to be inspected and all the other work done by my Department. The local authority were notified and they accepted that for payment of the supplementary grant.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Surely I am right in thinking that the local authority had to carry out an inspection in regard to reconstruction and supplementary grants? Is that not the case?
: No, they accepted the inspection of the Department.
: Question No. 21.
: Could I ask the Minister——
: I have called Question No. 21. Will the Deputy please co-operate with the Chair?
: Is the finalising of the inspection causing those delays?
: No.
: This is a separate question. This question does not arise.
: Has there been any pressure from the Department of Finance to slow down payments?
: None whatsoever.