Vol. 418 No. 9
97 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Environment the number of new house grants paid by his Department in each year since the £2,000 grant was introduced; and the number of grants paid each year to County Cork applicants.
98 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of the current updated value of a new house grant, if the value of the £2,000 grant had been index-linked and updated annually since its introduction to reflect the increase in the cost of living.
99 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the severe shortage of local authority housing, he will assist first-time house purchasers by increasing the new house grant.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 98 and 99 together.
Information regarding the number of new house grants paid nationally each year since 1985 is contained in the Department's housing statistics bulletins covering the relevant period, which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
The number of new house grants paid in County Cork were as follows: 1985, 808; 1986, 900; 1987, 833; 1988, 845; 1989, 604; 1990, 560; 1991, 547.
The value of the new house grant, updated to allow for changes in the consumer price index between May 1985, when the £2,000 rate of grant was introduced, and February 1992 would be £2,492. I have no proposals to increase the grant.
