Vol. 568 No. 1
730 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the number of late applications for the payment of housing grants which were lodged after the closing date; the number which did not have contracts signed before 14 November 2002; and if he will relax the closing date in order that these otherwise eligible people can draw down the first time buyers grant. [15621/03]
The relevant regulations provide that applicants under the new house grant scheme, terminated as and from 14 November 2002, were required to have entered into a contract to purchase or build a house on or before 14 November 2002 and that the application for the grant be received in my Department on or before 4 December 2002. The dates stipulated in the regulations regarding signing of contracts and the lodging of applications at the termination of the scheme cannot be set aside in any case. New house grants in respect of 345 applications received subsequent to 4 December 2002 cannot therefore be allowed and the applicants have been informed accordingly.
