asked the Minister for the Environment the estimated cost of the reconstruction grant applications approved without inspection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reconstruction Grant Applications.
43.
It is estimated that grants totalling £45 million approximately may ultimately fall due for payment on foot of applications covered by the dispensation from prior inspection.
What about this letter of approval that goes out to applicants who have been prior approved, as the Minister of State said? It states:
Accordingly, you may now immediately commence the improvement work for which you have applied for a grant... When the work is completed you should return a form. We will then arrange an inspection at which stage the amount of grant payable will be determined and paid to you without delay.
Is the Minister aware that this is as good as useless to applicants, because if they start the work they do not know how much they will get at the end of the work? They could take on a £6,000 job and anticipating a £4,000 grant end up being approved for £1,000. This is fooling people and leading them astray.
It is the original pig in the poke.
I have to refute that. Because of the unprecedented demand for this grant, which is stimulating the building industry, in order to let work out and get movement we lifted the prior inspection requirement. As the Deputy is aware, the application form specifically spells out the responsibilities of people applying for grants. There is no commitment to any amount, but people can qualify for £5,000 with a £2,000 extension grant, and water and sewerage would bring it up to £8,600. They can qualify for that depending on the work done. Inspectors go out, inspect the work and determine the amount of grant to be paid.