Vol. 498 No. 6
134 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, he has to change the regulations relating to first time buyers new house grants as they refer to separated or divorced people who purchase a new home in their own right; and the regulations in this regard. [28148/98]
Section 5(4) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979, as inserted by section 25 of Housing Act, 1988, enables the payment of a £3,000 new house grant to a person who, or whose spouse, had previously purchased or built a house and whose marriage has subsequently been dissolved or annulled by order of a court or who has separated under an order of court or by deed of separation, where the Minister is satisfied as to the person's need for housing and that refusal to pay a grant would cause undue hardship. I have no proposals, at this stage, to amend this provision.
