asked the Minister for the Environment the present position of an application for a home improvement grant for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 in view of the fact that he has added two bedrooms, a bathroom and kitchen to his two bedroomed vested cottage; and if he will introduce a measure of flexibility in this and other similar cases.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
265.
A house improvement grant in respect of the provision of sewerage facilities was approved in this case on 13 December 1982.
Grants in respect of a bathroom and extra bedroom cannot be allowed because, contrary to a qualifying condition of the scheme, these works had commenced before an inspection of the house was carried out. The prior inspection requirement was imposed to ensure that the applicants would know in advance what works would qualify, what the Department's requirements were and the amount of grant, if any, available so as to avoid situations where applicants would be disappointed or financially embarrassed by going ahead with work in anticipation of a grant and finding subsequently that they would not be eligible for one reason or another.
There was also the position that the Department experienced considerable difficulties in establishing eligibility in the past under various schemes particularly when only works commenced after a certain date qualified for a grant or where certain criteria could not be checked after the commencement of work. For these reasons a prior inspection condition was provided for in the scheme originally introduced in October 1981 and continued by the previous Government in April, 1982 when they were expanding the scheme and there can be no question of making exceptions in individual cases.
266.
asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the delay in paying a grant to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
There is no record in my Department of the receipt of an application for a housing grant from the person named.
267.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will arrange to have a new house grant paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The file in this case is with the inspector for investigation and report with a view to the allocation and payment of the grant if in order.