asked the Minister for the Environment the reason a mortgage subsidy has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if he will pay this subsidy immediately; the date on which this will be done; the amount that will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Grant and Mortgage Subsidy Payments.
69.
A mortgage subsidy will be paid when it is established that, in accordance with the conditions of the scheme, the house is occupied by the person named. This aspect is now being investigated by my Department's inspector.
70.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will arrange to pay a new house grant to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A grant will be paid when an inspection establishes that the house has been satisfactorily completed and occupied and all the other conditions of the scheme have been fulfilled. The file is at present with my Department's inspector for the report.
71.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for the Environment when payment of a new house grant will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
A grant will be paid when an inspection establishes that the house has been satisfactorily completed and occupied and that all the conditions of the grant scheme have been fulfilled. The inspection will be carried out as soon as possible.
72.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will allow the local authorities and health boards to make available to old age pensioners, who do not have their own financial resources, contributions from funds provided for essential repair grants from local authorities and housing repairs for the elderly grants from health boards so that they may be able to avail of the new house improvement grants which necessitate personal expenditure of at least one-third of the cost of reconstruction works; and if he accepts the desirability of such an arrangement in view of the fact that local authorities and health boards only reach a very limited number of applicants under the existing repairs scheme because of the shortage of financial resources in each scheme.
I do not propose to change the house improvement grants scheme on the lines suggested by the Deputy. Both the schemes of essential repair grants and special housing aid for the elderly are specifically designed to provide for limited works of an essential or emergency nature for particular categories of applicants living in unfit or insanitary accommodation. On the other hand works carried out under the house improvement grants scheme are of a more lasting and extensive nature to which an applicant should reasonably contribute a proportion of the costs involved.