asked the Minister for Local Government the position with regard to the payment of a housing reconstruction grant to a person in County Limerick (name supplied).
Written Answers. - Reconstruction Grants.
131.
The applicant had roofed his house with corrugated iron which is not acceptable for reconstruction. The county council were asked to consider the case under the essential repairs scheme but they recently notified my Department that they were unable to accept the case for such a grant.
However, as a result of a report from the county council indicating that the applicant has incurred considerable expenditure, the case is being re-examined to see if it is possible to allow any reconstruction grant.
132.
asked the Minister for Local Government why a reconstruction grant was refused to a person (name supplied), Ballyroan Road, Dublin 14.
133.
asked the Minister for Local Government why a reconstruction grant was refused to a person (name supplied), St. Peter's Road, Dublin 12.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together.
Reconstruction grants were refused in these two cases because of the provisions of section 21 (6) of the Housing Act, 1966, which, save in the exceptional circumstances specified in section 22 (1) of that Act, preclude the payment of a second grant in respect of work carried out on a house within 15 years after a previous grant under the Housing Acts was paid on that house. In the cases mentioned, less than 15 years had elapsed between payment of a new house grant and the commencement of reconstruction work and the exceptional circumstances referred to above did not apply.
134.
asked the Minister for Local Government why a reconstruction grant of only £110 was allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
Part only of the work which the applicant proposes to carry out qualifies for grant assistance towards the cost.
The cost of the work accepted for grant purposes was originally estimated to be £331, but this estimate was later revised to £467 and the appropriate grant was, accordingly, increased from £110 to £155.
Questions Nos. 135, 136 and 137 postponed.