asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in Dublin who applied some months ago for a reconstruction grant has been informed that it will take at least 13 more weeks to approve and pay the grant; if he will explain why this is so; and if he will take action to speed up this payment.
Written Answers . - Reconstruction Grant .
141.
: The response to the greatly increased scheme of house improvement grants which I introduced in December 1977 has been quite unprecedented. Since the beginning of the present year 15,517 applications have been received, as compared with 7,654 in the corresponding period in 1977; applications from the Dublin area increased from 1,640 to 4,696.
There have, inevitably, been some delays in processing this huge increase in the volume of applications. However, additional administrative and technical staff has been assigned to the work and arrangements have been made to recruit more building inspectors, who carry out house improvement inspections. Inspectors are working overtime and some inspectors have been moved from areas of less severe pressure into stress areas such as Dublin. I am confident that such measures will progressively reduce and eliminate delays.
As regards the specific application referred to, the papers in connection with which were received in my Department from Dublin Corporation on 13 April 1978. I am glad to inform the Deputy that, following an inspection, a grant has been allocated and will be paid in the near future.