asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the cause of the delay in paying a reconstruction grant to a certain Waterford City applicant, and if he will indicate whether the grant has yet been paid and, if not, why not.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Reconstruction Grant.
The payment of grant in this case was delayed because while it was under consideration a new procedure for dealing with such grants was brought into operation under the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1954. The grant was paid on the 20th October.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say when the application for the grant was made?
It is a fairly old application, now nearly two years old, but it is no harm to say that the appropriate certificate under the Housing Repair and Improvement (Works) Regulation, 1954, was received from the Waterford Corporation on the 11th September, 1954. On a request from the Department and following representations made by the Deputy, a grant was allocated on the 24th September, 1954, following which it was necessary to have the work inspected by an inspector of the Department before payment could be made.
Apparently in this delay, the same official was concerned.
I am at the disadvantage that I have not read the file which the Minister has just made use of.