I propose to take Questions Nos. 671, 681 and 707 together.
The Government took the difficult decision to terminate the new house grant scheme to ensure a sustainable match between its resources and expenditure. One of the stipulations clearly outlined to applicants in correspondence and through media advertisements was that people must occupy their new houses by 13 November. This deadline was adopted to achieve closure of the scheme, to allow re-prioritisation of this budget provision to other housing and social programmes and to prevent speculative applications on houses that may not be built for years to come.
Some applicants will have difficulties meeting the deadline. After serious consideration we decided to extend the deadline for completion, occupation and receipt of a request for payment of the grant in my Department to Friday, 2 April 2004. Applicants must produce evidence of occupation. Over the coming weeks my Department will write to all of the applicants to outline the new requirements.
This extension applies only to those who submitted valid applications received prior to the application deadline of 4 December 2002. Where all other conditions of the scheme are met, these applicants will now have until Friday, 2 April 2004 to complete and occupy their house and return a request for payment to my Department.
In signing the necessary regulations to extend the deadline, the Government is happy to bring certainty to those applicants who were concerned about their position.
