asked the Minister for the Environment the number of staff currently involved in his Department in the processing and administration of home improvement grants and if provision for overtime has been made to process such applications as quickly as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Improvement Grants.
13.
The staff of the housing grants section of my Department, apart from those dealing with certificates of reasonable value, consists of 78 indoor administration staff and 85 outdoor inspection staff. Of these, 44 and 39 respectively are engaged on improvement grant applications and the remainder, who are normally engaged on new house grant work, assist on improvement grant work as and when required. Overtime working is frequently availed of to speed up the processing of applications.
I know that the postal dispute created difficulties in all Government Departments and I do not wish to capitalise on that. However, I should like the Minister to indicate the average time required to process a home improvement grant?
I cannot answer that question now. However, there is a further question on the Order Paper that will assist the Deputy in regard to the question.
14.
asked the Minister for the Environment if his Minister of State has any responsibility in dealing with applications for home improvement grants received after the expiry date.
While I retain overall control over housing policy, I have delegated responsibility to the Minister of State in respect of the operation of housing grants. The position in regard to applications for certain grants received after the expiry date of 1 February 1980 will be explained in the replies to Questions Nos. 31, 32 and 33.
In connection with the announcement regarding the expiry date, will the Minister tell the House if the Minister of State had any role in processing applications after that date?
The Minister of State will be replying later to Questions Nos. 31, 32 and 33.
The announcement in question was an announcement on his part as Minister. Did he delegate to his Minister of State any power of processing applications after the expiry date?
We had discussion on it because of the possibility of late postage and for other reasons but, as yet, the position stands and this will be explained by the Minister of State.
Then the Minister of State had a role in processing applications?
We discussed the situation because of the number who claimed they had posted applications in ample time. As of now the position stands as it was before the discussion. No change has been made in the matter but the Minister of State will explain the present position when he is replying to later questions.
I find it surprising that there is this separation between the questions that I put down together. I am availing of the opportunity to ask the Minister now the nature of his discussions with his Minister of State.
The discussion revolved around the question of people claiming to have posted applications in what they considered to be ample time to reach the Department before the expiry date. It concerned the question of postage and the non-arrival of applications at the Department.
I should like to tell the Minister straight that there is a deal of public unease that there have been some very peculiar goings-on within the Department in relation to these applications.
Within the Department?
Yes. I have information relating to the subject and that is why I want to know the nature of the Minister's instructions to his Minister of State.
We must move on to the next question. The Minister has said that the Minister of State will be replying later.
This is a very important matter.
I have told the Deputy that the Minister of State will reply later.
The Minister has not told the House about his instructions to the Minister of State.
I am totally opposed to the situation where a Deputy carries on a contemptuous dialogue.
I am merely trying to discover from the Minister the nature of the discussions he had with his Minister of State. The Minister is answering questions now. Before he delegates the other answers to his Minister of State I want to know the nature of the instructions given by the Minister.
I refer the Deputy to what I said a moment ago.
This is not in contempt of anyone. I want to know the nature of the instructions.
The instructions were that late applications would not be entertained because of the notices published in the public press. As I have told the Deputy, we had further discussions because of the number of people who were claiming that their applications should not be regarded as late and who said that the applications were posted in good time. With regard to what the Deputy said, I would appreciate it if he would let me have the information because of the allegations with regard to my Department that were contained in his statement.
I would appreciate it if the Minister put on record the nature of his instructions to his Minister of State.
I have already stated the position.
That is not so.
The Deputy knows the situation.
Will the Minister tell the House if any personal representations were entertained after the expiry date?
I am calling the next question.
Question No. 15 is for written reply.