asked the Minister for Lands when a grant will be sanctioned for a person (name supplied) to enable him to settle with his family on the mainland near Clifden, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Assistance Grant.
8.
(Cavan): The special housing assistance to enable the inhabitants of Turbot Island to transfer to the mainland is available only to the heads of households.
As far as the Land Commission are aware, the person referred to by the Deputy is not the head of a household on the island. However I am arranging to have further inquiries made in the matter.
Is the Minister aware that the person referred to in the question is a married man with a family and that he is residing in his father's house? To interpret that the grant applies only to heads of households is a very rigid interpretation in this case. There is a second family involved. They have not any accommodation other than residing in the father's house.
The Deputy should put a question. He is embarking upon a statement.
To say he is not the head of the household is too ridiculous——
The Chair has called attention to the fact that the Deputy is not relating his supplementary questions in the fashion ordained by Standing Orders.
Is the Minister aware that this case was brought to his notice on a previous occasion but no action was taken? Further, is he aware that on a previous occasion the applicant was informed he did not qualify? Would the Minister give an assurance that the grant will be paid to enable the man to settle on the mainland?
(Cavan): The Deputy brought this matter to my attention in a letter. The information available to me to date suggests that the person in question got married, left the island and went to the mainland and then returned to the island. He is now residing in his father's house.
He has no other house.
(Cavan): As the Deputy realises, the object of the scheme is not to provide housing, to relieve housing congestion or to take people out of unfit houses. It is to enable residents, the householders on the island, to transfer to the mainland. My information is that the father is in the household in question. The son got married, left the island and then returned. However, in view of what the Deputy said I am having further inquiries made and, if he can be fitted into the scheme without doing violence to the principle of the scheme, I will look at the matter. I wish to emphasise that the question of rehousing or providing a house for someone in need is a matter for the local authority and the Department of Local Government, not the Land Commission.