asked the Minister for the Environment if he will include other works that are specified on the application form for approval under the house improvement grant for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
50.
The inspector has been asked for a further report on the extent of necessary repairs and the applicant will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
51.
asked the Minister for the Environment ther reason for the delay in the processing of a reconstruction grant application made by a person (details supplied) in County Louth as the application was made in December 1985, followed by a second application in September 1986; if arrangements can be made for inspection in view of the serious nature of the reconstruction problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There has been no undue delay in this case. The application was among these covered by the dispensation from prior inspection announced last February. Notification issued to the applicant authorising here to proceed with the work in respect of which her application was made, subject to the conditions of the scheme (other than the prior inspection requirement) applicable when she applied for the grant. As requested, an inspection will be carried out within the next few weeks.
53.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that a reconstruction grant cheque made payable to a person (details supplied) in County Louth was not received by him; if he is aware that the cheque was cashed in a bank in Drogheda but was not signed; in view of the fact that this person was unjustly deprived of £1,400, the steps he is taking to issue a further cheque to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A payable order amounting to £1,400 was issued by my Department to the person named at the address given on 20 January 1986. It is not possible to provide more information until the results of an investigation in the matter by An Garda Síochána are available. The question of the issue of a duplicate payable order does not arise at this stage.
54.
asked the Minister for the Environment when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be paid a house improvement grant.
There is no record of the receipt of an application for a house improvement grant from the person named.
55.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will confirm whether payment of a new house grant can be made before Christmas to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the urgency of this particular case.
The grant will be paid within the next few weeks.
56.
asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the delay in having inspections carried out for both approval and payment of grants under the home improvement grant scheme in County Kilkenny; and if he will arrange to have additional inspectors employed in the Kilkenny area with a view to having the long delays at present being experienced by applicants minimised.
Such delays in inspections as have arisen are attributable primarily to the very high number of applications received for house improvement grants — over 126,000 to date. Since the introduction of the scheme, various measures have been taken to increase the capacity to carry out inspections, including the engagement of about 80 temporary inspectors and the operation of a bonus scheme, which is in the nature of overtime for the permanent inspectorate staff. Inspectors are deployed on a regional rather than a county basis and are redeployed as necessary to cope with any delays beyond the normal that occur in having inspections carried out in particular areas.