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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Dec 1961

Vol. 192 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing and Reconstruction Grants: Means Test.

88.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that, while reconstruction grants for houses are paid without any means test, cases of hardship and injustice arise from the fact that a means test is applied in the case of grants for new houses and reduced new house grants; and, if so, whether he will consider abolishing the means test in the case of grants for new houses and reduced new house grants.

89.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will increase the housing and reconstruction grants, as the price of materials has been increased considerably.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

I am not in a position to make a statement in advance as to the contents of new legislation in regard to housing grants, which will become due for introduction next year.

Does the Minister not think it rather unfair that reconstruction grants exceed new house grants and that where an applicant carries out reconstruction work to the extent of £420, he qualifies for a grant of £280 whereas if he built a new house costing £2,000 in an area where water is available the most he can secure is £275 unless he qualifies under the means test laid down by this House some time ago?

I am aware that that situation can happen, possibly does happen, depending on the system adopted by the various housing authorities and I can assure the Deputy and the House that these matters are, in fact, being considered in my Department with a view to new legislation which will be brought to the House.

Would the Minister agree to consider cases that have occurred recently where applications were made for reconstruction grants and on the recommendation of inspectors they were changed to reduced new house grants and, as a result of that change, the applicants failed to qualify for the supplementary grants provided by the county council? Has the Minister taken note of these cases which have arisen?

I would say to the Deputy, as he is probably quite well aware, that when such a suggestion is made to an applicant who has started reconstructing his house and finishes with a new house grant invariably it is to the advantage financially of the applicant and if it is not, I would leave it to the ingenuity of the Deputy to get around it in some way.

Would the Minister advise me further? What does he mean exactly by "ingenuity", because I have a few of these cases in hand?

I could not say more to the Deputy.

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