Bernard Allen
Question:119 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused a first time house buyer's grant. [8490/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The conditions governing the new house grant scheme normally preclude payment of a grant where a person who is party to a joint application or the spouse of such person had previously purchased or built, individually or with each other, another house for his/her own occupation. However, a grant may be allowed where the marriage of the person has been dissolved or annulled by court order, or the person is separated under a court order or a deed of separation and the person and any dependants are in need of housing; and the Minister is satisfied that refusal to pay a grant would cause undue hardship. Each such application is considered on its merits. In this particular case, having regard to the applicant's income, it has not been possible to authorise payment of a grant.