asked the Minister for the Environment if the owner of a house which does not qualify for the £1,000 new house grant can qualify for a mortgage subsidy.
Written Answers. - Housing Grants.
476.
The general position is that an applicant for mortgage subsidy must first qualify for a new house grant. However, even if a person does not qualify for the new house grant, he will qualify for a mortgage subsidy if he is (a) either a tenant or a tenant purchaser of a local authority house for not less than six months and he surrenders the house to the authority in order to purchase a private house or (b) is on the housing list for specified reasons for at least a year and is either a married person with at least one child or a single parent.
477.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that there will be considerable delays in the processing of the new £5,000 grant for persons moving from local authority houses to private houses since two certificates have to be completed and then processed by his Department; the reason the second of these certificates is necessary; and if he will review the scheme with a view to speeding up the processing and payment of the grant.
The processing of applications (including inspections) for the £5,000 grant is a matter for the appropriate local authority up to the payment certification stage. Payment of the grant is made by my Department on receipt of the appropriate payment certificate from the authority.
I am not aware of any undue delays in the processing of such applications. In drawing up the administrative arrangements for the £5,000 grant scheme every effort was made to minimise those factors which might cause delay in the processing or payment of the grant subject to normal principles of accountability in relation to public expenditure. The second and final inspection is required in order to ensure that any repairs which are the responsibility of the tenant have been satisfactorily carried out and that the dwelling at the time of surrender is in a fit and tenantable condition. The operation of this new scheme is being kept under continuing review in my Department.