asked the Minister for the Environment if there are any circumstances whereby a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be approved for a house improvement grant prior to the ten year waiting period expiring after the construction of the new house, in view of the fact that he never received a new house grant.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
49.
It is a condition of the house improvement grants scheme that applications for grants for water, sewerage, a bathroom, an extension, repairs to the fabric of a house or the replacement of windows-doors cannot be allowed unless a period of ten years has elapsed from the date of the erection of the house or from the date of payment of a new house grant. Accordingly, the application from the person named for a grant for a kitchen extension was refused pending expiry of the required waiting period. Subject to the other condition of the scheme, the ten year waiting period applies except in the case of (a) emergency repairs arising from storm damage; (b) the provision of a bedroom to relieve overcrowding (where the waiting period is five years); and (c) the building of a masonry chimney where no such chimney exists.
50.
asked the Minister for the Environment the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was previously refused a house improvement grant; if there is any way that this can be reconsidered; and if certain works are eligible under the current scheme.
There is no record of the receipt in my Department of an application for a house improvement grant under the present scheme in respect of the house in question from the person named. However, there was an application under a previous scheme from a person with the same name and from a broadly similar address. A grant could not be paid in that case because, contrary to the Housing Regulations, 1980 (as amended), the work was not completed by 30 June 1981. The question of the person's eligibility for grants under the current scheme would be a matter for determination on receipt from him of a completed application form.
51.
asked the Minister for the Environment when a house improvement grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The grant has been paid.