asked the Minister for the Environment if he will pay home improvement grants to persons who have to proceed with necessary repairs to the fabric of the house prior to the visit of an inspector.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Improvement Grants.
4.
I do not propose to change the prior inspection rule which is a statutory condition of eligibility for a house improvement grant.
Will the Minister not agree there is a major time lag between the time an application is received in the Department and when the inspector calls to inspect the premises in question? Surely if a person applies for a grant he will know if he is entitled to do the improvements and also if the improvements are necessary. In these days of economic difficulties, does the Minister not consider that once a person makes an application and that application is acknowledged by the Department he should be entitled to proceed with the improvement works?
As I indicated in my reply, I do not propose to change the prior inspection rule. I stated this yesterday.
We debated this matter yesterday.
Will the Minister not agree it is most unreasonable to apply the prior inspection rule in all cases? Where severe damage is caused to a house following a heavy storm — the roof could be blown off a house in a remote area — and where the owner seeks to carry out repairs to the roof to protect his wife and family from the elements, he will be denied any home improvement grants towards the cost of repairs because he did not wait for a prior inspection. Surely that is most unreasonable? The Department should take account of the situation and allow payment of home improvement grants in cases where an emergency exists.
We have issued instructions that where there is storm damage and freak damage there should be an inspection within a day or two.
The Minister does not represent a rural constituency. Will the Minister not agree——
I ask Deputies not to make so many speeches at Question Time.
It is a major problem.
I ask Deputies to consider the advisability of dragging out each question by making a number of speeches on it.
The only way we can seek to effect necessary changes in legislation to help people in need is to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister in the House. Surely Question Time is designed to accommodate that purpose as well as others? Why should the Chair try to restrict our right to raise matters of concern to our constituents?
The Chair is entrusted with the discretion as to how many supplementary questions shall be answered or whether any supplementary question shall be answered.
If the Chair were living in Roundstone and had the roof of his house blown off in a storm he would not be very pleased to find that the Department were not prepared to pay the grant because he did not wait for an inspector to come from Dublin to have a look at his house. This is what happened to a person in Roundstone. The applicant is supposed to contact the Department before repairing the roof, but that is most unreasonable and I ask the Minister to reconsider the administration of this scheme in regard to emergency cases.
I will have a look at the matter. If there is storm damage and serious problems develop we do not want to impose hardship.
The Minister's Department refuses to pay the grant.
The Deputy asked if I would have a look at the administration of the scheme and I said I would.
The Minister's predecessor, Deputy Quinn, also offered to have a look at the matter and to make the changes I requested. Unfortunately he did not do so. I hope we will have a better response from the Minister of State.
I am sorry. I did not indicate that I was going to make any changes. I said I would have a look at the administration of it.
I will come back to it again.
Would the Minister agree that prior to 1981 an applicant had to have the work completed before he had an inspection? This was changed under the second scheme and now people apply and the inspector does not call to them within a few months, with the result that they have foundations poured, pipes laid to the septic tank — which tank may not even be built. I would ask for a more liberal interpretation by inspectors of those regulations. That is all that we require.
I have for some time been trying to ask this question. I have a strong feeling that I have been sitting in the wrong place.
If the Deputy feels very strongly about that he can change places.
Does the Minister understand that there are some areas on the western seaboard, such as Tory Island, which have been without post for three weeks? If applications from these people come through me or through the local authority they have then to get to Tory Island, have to be signed by the inspectors and sent back to Dublin, where there may be a delay of another three weeks before they are sent back to Tory Island. How does he suggest that the islanders overcome this difficulty?
The Minister does not care and neither do his Department.
Would the Minister of State for the Environment accept a telephone call as an application?
I have indicated to Deputy Molloy that I would look at the administration of this scheme to see if it is working. If it is not working, we shall consider how we can make it work.
Would the Minister not consider a review body, as one means of overcoming the unemployment problem?
The Deputy appears to have a phobia about review bodies and task forces today. I am at a loss about this.
I am calling Question No. 5.
However, if it keeps the Deputy happy——
Minister, I have called Question No. 5.
A Cheann Comhairle, could I ask a supplementary question about——
No, I am sorry. I have called Question No. 5.
I wanted to ask a question. Would the Ceann Comhairle not allow me?
No, I am sorry. We had this matter under discussion for half an hour yesterday.
It is the responsibility of each local authority to provide housing for those persons——
(Interruptions.)
I cannot hear the answer to my question. We should give the Minister some time.
I cannot get order.
This is one of the most important questions.
(Interruptions.)
It may be, but I have called the next question.
(Interruptions.)
I shall have to suspend the House if the Deputies do not stop interrupting.
If he will not allow me to ask a supplementary question, I am very disappointed.
Could I ask the Minister to restart the question?
Mr. O'Brien
Of course. Do I start again?