Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 1

Written Answers. - Housing Grants.

Michael Creed

Question:

251 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of new house grants where payment was delayed due to the use of a material (details supplied); the procedures to be adopted to facilitate the prompt payment of these grants in view of the fact that the product involved has been approved by the NSAI; and if he will have arrangements made for the payment of a grant to persons (details supplied) in County Cork where the inspector's report has indicated that all is in order subject to approval of this product. [19810/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

A new house grant is payable only where a house meets the conditions and the standards specified by my Department and set out in the explanatory memorandum (HA1) on new house grants supplied to each applicant for a grant. In particular, construction of the house must be in compliance with the requirements of the building regulations. The suitability of new materials, products or components must be demonstrated through certification by a competent body, such as the national standards authority of Ireland (NSAI)-Irish Agreement Board (IAB).

In the case of this particular product, such certification was not initially available but has now been issued by the Irish agreement board, with a number of conditions relating to the installation of the material included. Accordingly, on receipt of certification from an architect-engineer confirming that the roofing felt has been installed in compliance with the conditions laid down by the agreement board grants will be paid. In this particular case, the appropriate certification is awaited from the applicant.

As a consequence of the required certification not being available until recently, payment of 38 new house grants has been delayed.