asked the Minister for the Environment if he will now arrange for the immediate payment of a grant of £600 in respect of house improvements which were carried out by a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and the reason for the long delay in paying the grant.
Written Answers. - Grants Payments.
326.
It was a statutory requirement that all applications for grants in respect of house improvement works which commenced before 1 November 1977 had to be received in the Department on or before 31 January 1978. As the works, in this case, commenced in May 1977 and as the application was not received until 1 February 1980, a grant could not be allowed. The applicant was notified of the position on 9 May 1981.
327.
asked the Minister for the Environment why a grant for the provision of a bathroom has not been paid to applicants (details supplied) in County Laois who are old age pensioners; and if he will now take steps to have this long outstanding matter concluded and the grant paid as a matter of extreme urgency.
Under the Housing Regulations, 1980 (as amended), the latest date for completion of work and the receipt, in the Department, of claims for payment was 30 June 1981. As notification was not received by that date, payment of the grant cannot now be made.
328.
asked the Minister for the Environment the reason a grant has not been paid in respect of improvement works to the residence of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; the reason that only part of the grant has been paid; and if he will now take steps to have this matter concluded.
Under the Housing Regulations, 1980, as amended, the latest date for completion of work and the receipt, in the Department, of claims for payment was 30 June 1981. As notification was not received until after that date, payment of the balance of £100 cannot now be made.
329.
asked the Minister for the Environment when it is proposed to pay a new house grant to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and the reason for the delay.
This person was notified on 26 August 1980, that his application for a new house grant could not be allowed, as the floor area of the new house exceeded the prescribed maximum floor area of 125 square metres.
330.
asked the Minister for the Environment when a grant of £750, which is long overdue in respect of house improvements and the provision of a septic tank, will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly as the work has been inspected and passed.
Payment of these grants will be made if and when an inspection establishes that the work had been satisfactorily completed on or before 30 June 1981. The inspection will be carried out shortly.
331.
asked the Minister for the Environment why a home improvement grant has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
Under the Housing Regulations, 1980, as amended, it was necessary for the work to be satisfactorily completed and a claim for payment received in the Department on or before 30 June 1981. As this statutory requirement was not fulfilled in the case referred to by the Deputy, payment of this grant cannot now be made.
332.
asked the Minister for the Environment when a house improvement grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
Under the Housing Regulations, 1980, it is a requirement of payment of a grant that, on or before 21 January 1980, the works had commenced, a contract for carrying out the works had been entered into, or the necessary materials had been purchased. As the evidence furnished by the applicant indicates that the materials were not purchased until April 1980, payment of the grant cannot be made. The applicant was informed accordingly on 17 July, 1981.
333.
asked the Minister for the Environment if applications for house improvement grants will be considered for payment where work had been completed before 30 June but where his Department had not been notified.
335.
asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the number of applicants who were unaware of the closing date for applications for reconstruction grants, he will extend the closing date from 30 June to 31 December.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 335 together.
Under the Housing Regulations, 1980, as amended, house improvement grants under the former scheme are not payable unless all the relevant works were completed and a claim for payment was received in my Department on or before 30 June 1981. It was also a condition of these grants that, on or before 21 January 1980, the works had commenced, materials had been purchased or a contract had been entered into for the carrying out of the works. Persons complying in this regard ought to have had sufficient time to have the works completed by 30 June 1981—a period of over 17 months. The original closing date was 1 October 1980, which was later extended to 31 March 1981, and finally to 30 June 1981.
I am satisfied that the extension of the closing date to 30 June 1981 received adequate publicity. In March, it featured prominently in radio and television news bulletins and notices were published in all Sunday newspapers and again on 14 June large notices were published in all Sunday newspapers. Accordingly I have no proposals to amend the regulations further in regard to this requirement.