asked the Minister for Local Government if the higher rate of new house grant will be paid to a person (name supplied) in Navan, County Meath; and if he will accept, in the absence of a certified statement of earnings in England, the medical certificate of hospitalisation which has been supplied and which is evidence that the applicant's earnings must have been below the prescribed limit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New House Grants.
23.
The eligibility of the applicant for the special rate of new house grant cannot be determined until a certified statement of his income for the 1969-70 financial year is furnished by Meath County Council. The acceptance of documents for the calculation of income is a matter for the county council and I am informed that the council have not received the medical certificate referred to in the question.
So far as I know his last medical certificate went to the Department. Is the Minister aware that this man was in England in 1969-70 and he was in hospital for four months at that time? It is not possible for him to get a wages certificate from England at present because it is so far back and, taking into account the health record of the man, would the Minister not consider granting the higher rate of grant to him?
I have sympathy with Deputy Crinion's request, but I am not authorised to do what he suggests. The application was received in November, 1970. The house commenced in 1971 and was completed in December of that year. The new house grant of £325 is paid in two instalments. In fact, Meath County Council say they have not got the medical certificate referred to and, therefore, it could not have been passed on to the Department. I would suggest that Deputy Crinion might ask the man to get a medical certificate to see if this will solve his problem.
If the medical certificate can be produced, would the Department then agree to sanction the higher rate of grant?
I can assure the Deputy that, if a medical certificate is forwarded, with the other necessary documents, from Meath County Council, I will be glad to give it immediate attention.
Did the Meath County Council not certify this man originally and then the Minister's Department asked for further information?
Meath County Council did not certify this man for a higher rate of grant. Had the council done so, he would have been paid it.