asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider waiving condition No. 9 in the house improvement grant scheme for all applications received from inhabitants on islands off our coastline, in view of the fact that registered contractors are nonexistent on all our islands and the island inhabitants find it almost impossible to get registered contractors from the mainland interested in operating on the islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - House Improvement Grant Scheme.
34.
One of the purposes of the house improvement grants scheme is to boost employment in the legitimate building industry. Against this background it is a condition of the scheme that an applicant for a grant is required to furnish the tax numbers of a contractor engaged to carry out the work. I have no proposals to waive this condition. I would point out however that the amounts of the grants payable in respect of houses situated on islands off the coast are significantly higher than those paid in other cases.