asked the Minister for the Environment the number of reconstruction and heating grants paid since 1 January 1980 and if his attention has been drawn to the delay in payment of these and new house grants in County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grant Applications.
7.
The numbers of house inprovement grants and grants to reduce dependence on oil paid from 1 January to 31 March 1980, the latest date for which figures are available, were 5,152 and 2,628 respectively.
Delays have occurred in the processing and payment of housing grant applications in County Donegal and elsewhere because of the exceptionally large number of applications received subsequent to the announcement on 21 January 1980 of the termination of certain grants schemes.
In relation to delays in general, is the Minister aware that——
The question relates to a specific area.
——there are delays in payments of——
We are not going to have delays in every county investigated.
Will the Minister get somebody to answer the telephone at 713377?
That is a separate question. Question No. 8.
There was a work-to-rule in my Department for some weeks but I am glad to be able to tell the House that normal working commenced on Monday last.
8.
asked the Minister for the Environment when applications received under the home improvement grants scheme prior to the expiry date will be processed and granted and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The administrative processing of all applications received on or before 1 February 1980 has been completed.
It is not possible to state when grants will be paid. Inspections with a view to the approval of ordinary house improvement grants are proceeding as well as inspections in cases where notification of the completion of work has been received. Because of the very large number of applications received prior to the termination of the house improvement grants scheme on 21 January and the unprecedented number of applications received subsequently, inspection delays are inevitable. Payment of grants will depend on final inspections establishing that work has been completed in accordance with the requirements of the scheme.
Is the Minister of State aware that yesterday in the House the Cabinet Minister responsible for this area in the Department indicated that he had held a conversation with the Minister of State indicating to him certain criteria to be applied for those applying after the last date? Could the Minister of State tell the House what are those criteria?
That is a separate question.
It is very important.
I am in daily contact with my Minister on all Departmental matters that he has designated to me. I do not want to be evasive, but as a former Government Minister the Deputy will know that some of these things are of a confidential nature.
Will the Minister agree that the home improvement grant scheme is paid for by the taxpayer? The Cabinet Minister yesterday indicated that after a conversation with the Minister of State they had mutually agreed that certain applications after the closing date would be considered. Since the money involved here is neither the Minister's nor the Minister of State's property but taxpayers' money, surely the general body of taxpayers are entitled to know what criteria have been adopted for payments of grants after the expiry date. That is not a confidential matter between the Ministers, it should be a matter of public knowledge.
The position is that grant applications in before 21 January last are being dealt with and are entitled to priority. Applications received in the month of January have now been indexed and are now on their way out to the inspectors for a report. I will deal with these applications in a more comprehensive way on three other questions.
Question No. 9.
Will the Minister tell the House if it is his intention to employ additional inspectors to clear up the backlog.
No, not at present.
Further arising——
That means never.
Before Christmas nine temporary inspectors were employed.
The Minister was not there before Christmas.
For the information of the Deputy I was appointed on 13 December.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Arising from that reply——
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Minister give us any idea how long it will take to clear up the backlog and to carry out these inspections?
It is hard to say. It depends on the scheme, on the applicants, on the guidelines laid down in the rules and on the regulations. As the Deputy knows from the notice that my Department issued, all work must be completed by 1 October next. The Deputy can be assured that as far as I and my Department are concerned there will be no undue delay.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Can the Minister give us an estimate?
I do not like giving estimates.
It depends on the money available.
(Interruptions.)
Arising from the Minister's reply——
Question No. 9.
9.
asked the Minister for the Environment the period of time given to applicants for the home improvement grants scheme between his announcement of its termination and the actual date of termination and the number of applications received during that period.
The period allowed for the receipt of completed application forms was from 21 January 1980, up to 1 February 1980. The number of applications received in that period was approximately 45,000.
The Minister indicated earlier that he would give information relating to the criteria to be adopted.
I will give it in the next question.
The Minister will give it in Questions Nos. 10, 11 and 12?
Yes, in detail.
10.
(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment if some grant applications to reduce dependence on oil and for insulation of houses caught in postal delays in January have been refused on the grounds that they were not received in time, if he will accept these applications as having been received within the prescribed time and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11.
asked the Minister for the Environment the number of house improvement grant applications received after the closing date, if many of these applications were posted well in advance of the closing date and if he will make a statement on the matter.
12.
asked the Minister for the Environment the number of applications for the home improvement grants scheme received after his announced expiry date of the scheme.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11 and 12 together.
Approximately 3,000 applications for house improvement and solid-fuel grants were received after the specified closing date of 1 February 1980.
These applications have been formally rejected. A number of applicants have drawn attention to the fact that they posted their applications in good time but that postal delays resulted in late delivery. I am reviewing the position in relation to such cases and I hope to be in a position shortly to make a decision in the matter.
Could the Minister indicate roughly how many applications are in this category?
Three thousand.
Has the Minister of State made any decision up to today on making any public announcement on his approach to these applications?
It is all being examined at the moment but I hope to be able to make a statement on this in the next two weeks.
Will the Minister agree that it is an unusual circumstance and that it is perhaps unfair to members of the public who have seen a particular date for closure? If there is any possibility of further consideration after that date, the Minister should avail of the earliest opportunity to let the public know that a further period of application is permitted.
I received representations from a number of members from all sides of the House in this matter.
Why does the Minister not read them out?
I would make it clear that the grants which were brought in before by the Coalition Government were closed off overnight. There was no two weeks' grace. We put a notice in the papers specifying clearly the closing date. There was some delay in the post. This has been brought to my attention and I can assure the House that I am giving it some very sympathetic consideration. As I stated earlier, in conjunction with the Minister I hope that we will be able to make a decision within two weeks.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Might I ask the Minister for an assurance that, if he is satisfied these applications which were received late were posted within ordinary postal delivery time, they will be accepted?
I can give no assurance of the nature for which Deputy Fitzpatrick is looking. I am giving the matter very sympathetic consideration.
Do not mind the sympathy. Give them the money.
The Deputy did not say that when they were in Government. They closed it off overnight.
We had no postal problem then.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Minister tell me what he means by sympathetic consideration? Surely if a person hands his letter of application to a Government agency for delivery to another Government agency he has done all he can reasonably be expected to do and there should be no question of sympathetic consideration. He should get his entitlement.
With all due respect to Deputy Fitzpatrick who was a member of a Government who closed them off overnight, I am giving this matter very favourable consideration. I want to make it clear that I am looking into this matter as also is the Minister.
(Cavan-Monaghan): There is no question of sympathetic consideration. It is a question of right.
We will be making a decision within two weeks, I hope.
Has the Minister written already to applicants whose applications were late refusing the grants?
Yes.
The Minister has already written a letter to me refusing an application. Is that being reviewed and will the Minister write later to say that it is being changed?
It is under review.
The Minister has already written to say it has been refused.
This has been brought to my notice. The Deputy will appreciate that I am very sympathetically disposed. Certain criteria are laid down. A notice appeared in the papers.
Why did the Minister write that letter?
Question No. 13.
13.
asked the Minister for the Environment the reason a new house grant has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary and when payment of same will issue.
A grant was paid in this case on 14 April 1980.
The Minister's sympathy is more than welcome, but people did not apply to him for sympathy. They applied for grants. If they can establish when they made the application be means of a photocopy of a registered envelope, will that meet the criteria the Minister has under consideration?
I am looking into every aspect.
Would the Minister accept a photocopy of registered post from a ministerial colleague?
I am looking into every aspect.
Order.
Has the Minister got the money to pay?
(Cavan-Monaghan): With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with Deputy Fitzpatrick during the afternoon.
Would the Minister agree——
Question No. 14 is being taken for written reply. The Minister will answer Question No. 15 please.
——that, unless he clarifies the position about late applications, an accusation could be entertained of political partiality?
That does not arise. I cannot state it any more clearly that the Department and the Minister are giving this matter very active consideration at the moment. A good number of Deputies have come to me about this matter. I made it quite clear that I hope to be in a position within two weeks to make a decision.
Question No. 15.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
Deputy Fitzpatrick has made the same request. Question No. 15.
What about Question No. 13?
It was answered when there was a ri-ra in the House.