Vol. 561 No. 1
488 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford can be offered the first-time buyer's grant as they were not aware that the closing date was so soon after the announcement of the abolition of the grant, but had signed contracts before this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3226/03]
Applications under the new house grant scheme, which was terminated as and from 14 November 2002, were required to be received in my Department on or before 4 December 2002. The application in this case was received subsequent to that date and a new house grant cannot be allowed. This statutory condition, which was published in the main daily newspapers on 15 November and again on 29 November, cannot be set aside in any particular case.
