asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of delays in payment of supplementary housing grants by Donegal County Council due to inadequate subventions from his Department; and if he will take steps that will ensure more expeditious grant payments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Loans and Grants.
35.
The capital allocation to the county council for house purchase and reconstruction loans and supplementary grants for the nine-month period ending 31st December next has recently been increased to £550,000. I understand from the council that their supplementary grants account has been, and is, in credit. Separate allocations are not made for loans and grants; it is entirely a matter for each local authority to divide the allocation between these services as they think fit.
36.
asked the Minister for Local Government why a grant in respect of a new house has not been paid to an applicant (name supplied) in County Laois; if he is aware that the file is under consideration in his Department since March, 1974; if he will now give a decision as the work has been completed and the applicant is awaiting payment of the grant; and if he will make a statement regarding the delay in dealing with the case.
The application for a new house grant in this case was not submitted until 21st September, 1974. However, as reconstruction and sewerage grants of £200 and £25, respectively, had been paid in May, 1974, in respect of the same house, the eligibility of the house for a new house grant has to be investigated. My Department's supervising inspector will be calling on the applicant shortly and when his report is received a decision will issue.
37.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason why a person (name supplied) in County Kerry did not qualify for a higher rate of new house grant in view of the fact that his income is £805.62.
As I informed the Deputy by letter on 18th November, 1974, this applicant was paid the maximum grant allowable on the basis of his income at the time he applied for the grant. Having regard to the amount of the applicant's income and the date of commencement of the erection of his house, May, 1971, the maximum special rate of grant was £350.
I understood that the income for a higher rate of grant was £900 at that time; as this man has an income of approximately £805 he should have qualified for a grant of £450.
That is not so. The erection of the house commenced in May, 1971, and the appropriate special rate of grant payable in such circumstances to a person in the £750 to £900 income category, deriving his income solely or mainly from non-agricultural sources, is £350. This he was paid.
Is the income for the year in which the building of the house commenced the one which is acceptable to the Department?
This is the one that was produced for the particular time. My own ruling on it would be the year from the time the application was made for the grant is the one that should apply. In this case the decision was taken in 1971 and it was apparently the year ended 5th April, 1971 or the financial year, 31st March, 1971, which was then considered to be the date applied.
In other words, the Minister is saying there has been a change in the criteria, that he is now stipulating a year back from the date of application irrespective of when the house building commences.
I would consider if somebody wants to build a house and he needs grant assistance he would apply for the grant as quickly as possible, often before the commencement of the erection of the house. If the application is sent in and approved on a date it is reasonable that the 12 months prior to the date of application is the one that should be taken into consideration. It is only a small thing and I do not think it makes much difference.
Further arising from the Minister's reply——
I do not want Deputies to go from the particular to the general in this question.
The Minister should operate the provision in the 1970 Housing Act which states that the year before——
I am afraid the Deputy is going into the larger area of grants generally. This deals with a specific applicant.
Will the Minister consider in this case applying the provision of the 1970 Act which states that the income for the year subsequent to the date the house was built, which he has recommended to county councils, should be the one applied?
We are clearly entering into a broader area altogether. The Chair cannot allow that.
I did not apply any year. Deputy Molloy applied the year. This was done three years ago.
May I ask the Minister——
If the question is in relation to the applicant in Kerry the Deputy is in order. If not he is not in order.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Cunningham's Minister made the decision in 1971 and Deputy McEllistrim, realising that now there would be a reasonable approach to it if it could be done, asked me if I could do anything for the poor fellow, whom he thought was badly dealt with by my predecessor. Unfortunately I could not oblige Deputy McEllistrim. It is as simple as that.
Question No. 38.
Does the Minister accept the income mentioned in this question by Deputy McEllistrim as being the correct income for the year? Would he give us the income ceiling?
£900 for that particular grant.
Does the Minister accept that the income stated is correct?
I am sorry to be holding up the House but I think I have been making my replies——
I do not wish to badger the Minister but as the House is aware an applicant with £805 would get the full grant.
He got the full normal grant but because his income was between £750 and £900 he got an additional grant which brought his grant up to £350.
38.
asked the Minister for Local Government the legal costs in respect of each new house loan of £4,500 charged by the county council solicitors in Counties Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford and Meath.
Since the local authorities in question do not employ full-time solicitors, the legal charges in respect of house loans are a matter for determination between solicitors acting for the local authorities and the loan applicants.
I understand, however, that the legal fees charged in these areas in respect of a loan of £4,500 are generally in the region of £60 to £65.