Vol. 546 No. 3
250 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the substantial numbers of houses built in recent years which are in excess of the floor area limits for eligibility for new house grant schemes; if he has given consideration to reducing the grant up to a further maximum of 1,600 square feet where no grant would apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31384/01]
251 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether the £3,000 new house grant is appropriate to first time owner occupiers by way of grant assistance; the number of new house grants which have been paid out in each of the past five years; the number of new houses built in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31385/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together.
Information regarding the number of new house grants paid and new houses built in each of the past five years is contained in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin 2000, copies of which are available from the Oireachtas Library.
As it is possible to provide a reasonably sized four bedroomed house within the current upper floor area limit of 125 mf7>2, I have no proposals to increase the maximum floor area limit for new house grant purposes.
Increasing the new house grant above the current grant level of £3,000, 3,809, would have no additional benefit to the first time buyer as an increase would likely add to inflationary pressures in the new house market. I have, therefore, no proposals to increase the new house grant at this time.
