Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 3

Written Answers. - Housing Grants.

John Deasy

Question:

171 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many members of the public who had their housing contracts signed were unaware of the deadline for applying for the recently abolished first time buyers grant; the number of applications which were received by his Department after the closing date; if he will consider granting payment to those who had their contracts signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2412/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

The termination of the new house grant scheme, which was announced on 14 November 2002, arose from the necessity, in the context of the 2003 Estimates, for the Government to ensure a sustainable match between expenditure and resources, and to concentrate housing programmes on areas of greatest impact and social need. It is not proposed to review the basis on which the scheme was terminated or to reintroduce the grant.

Regulations setting out the circumstances on which new house grants would be paid after 14 November 2002 came into force on the day of the announcement. My Department published an advertisement in the national press on 15 November 2002 setting out the conditions for new house grant payment as stipulated in the statutory regulations. A further reminder was published in the press on Friday, 29 November 2002. Both press advertisements clearly stated that the clos ing date for receipt of applications was 4 December 2002.

Some 13,827 new house grant applications were received in housing grants section of my Department in the three week period between 15 November 2002 and 4 December 2003. Some 246 applications were received after 4 December. As these applications did not respect the well published deadline, they cannot be admitted and it would not be appropriate to investigate their details further.