(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment if he will comment on a report (details supplied) which alleged that he was supplying details of all successful new house grant applicants in County Kildare to the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry who in turn communicates with the applicants.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare New House Grants.
45.
In an effort to meet the problems caused for him by delays in replying to his representations on behalf of individual applicants, which have arisen because of the huge number of grants applications on hands, the Minister of State at my Department supplied the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry with details of impending grant payments to persons in his constituency.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister of State aware that the net result of that operation is that people who did not approach the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry to make representations for them are now receiving letters from the Minister informing them that as a result of representations which he made—if that is not specifically stated it is implied—he is glad to be able to inform them that the grant has been paid? Would not the Minister agree that this is at best a childish performance and at worst a despicable piece of deceit?
I pride myself on being the best man in this House to give information to anybody from any side of the House who seeks such information. I will readily give information regarding grants to Deputy Fitzpatrick or to any other Deputy. Earlier today Deputy Hegarty of Fine Gael was complaining about my not giving enough information. When I give information to any Deputy it is up to him to decide what to do with it. When I was answering questions about a month ago I was asked whether any grants at all were being paid. Now they realise I am paying them and they are not satisfied with that. What way do they want it? Let them make up their minds.
(Interruptions.)
I am the giver of good news every week.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister of State might be surprised to know that my great difficulty is to get any information from his Department. I usually get a little note saying that the matter has been referred to a section of his Department and that seems to be the end of it. Does the Minister not agree that this piece of political make-believe is politics at its lowest, cheapest and most despicable?
That is a statement.
I wish to remind Deputy Fitzpatrick that about a month ago he had a question down to the Minister asking whether I had instructed my Department to channel all correspondences through my office.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I did not put down that question.
I have not done so either in writing or verbally. I want to ask the Deputy a question.
(Interruptions.)
I want to tell Deputy Fitzpatrick that any information he wants from me I will give it to him.
On anything?
If the Deputy wants information on a certain subject I will give it.
The Minister will give anything but the grants because the money is not there.
The only people complaining to me are people we did not pay cheques to. All those who got cheques are not complaining at all.
Next question. This is not serious at all.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It is very serious.
We are only having a bit of crack.
(Cavan-Monaghan): There is a ring of Deputy Oliver Flanagan about that. I ask the Minister to confine himself to this question: does he not think that the procedure of giving information ad lib and without request to the Minister, Deputy Power, to enable him to lead people to believe that he has done something for them is cheap politics and an attempt to play on the feelings and innocence of constituents? Will he take steps to cut it out? I agree that it should be addressed to the Taoiseach. It is despicable——
I have called the next question.
Deputy Fitzpatrick was in a Government that knew all about that.
Will the Minister arrange that where he is giving information on all grants paid, irrespective of whether the people involved made representations, such information is given to all Deputies in the constituency?
I will deal with everything that comes along and on the type of request made.
I asked the Minister a straight question. Where he gives information on grants and so on in a constituency to one particular Deputy for that constituency will he give the same facilities to all Deputies in that constituency?
If requested. Perhaps the Deputy did not hear my reply clearly but it was only in regard to grants that were paid that week. I have the Department ticking over in such a way that anyone who has made representations——
Like a time bomb.
——will be notified and need have no worries.
We cannot stay on this all day.
I must compliment the Minister on his performance but can he indicate to the House if he is satisfied that what he is saying publicly and with great aplomb can only be a breach of confidentiality? Does he not consider that it is the right of a citizen to apply to the Department for a grant, which comes out of taxpayer's money, and that it is his right not to have that paraded and announced to any Deputy from any side of the House?
In my Department I am dealing with approximately 1,000 letters a week. Everywhere I go in the constituency people come to my clinics asking me for God's sake to pay the grant or do something about it soon. There is nobody complaining about me giving grants or information to Deputies in the House.
Question No. 47. We cannot stay on this all day.
Perhaps the Minister did not understand my question. If I heard correctly, he has indicated that people who never went to a politician and who are entitled to a grant under the conditions of the grant now receive, unsolicited, a letter from a Deputy or Minister—it does not matter from what party—to the effect that their application has become known to a politician and somehow or other——
I have not——
On whose authority does the Minister convey that information?
It is corruption.
I have been accused of not giving information——
The Minister has been accused of giving too much information to people who have not asked for it.
One time I am not giving enough information, now I am giving too much information.
The citizens of this country have a right to make applications for grants——
I have already called the next question.
The Minister has the cheek to give information to get cheap political votes.
Your party know all about that.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair will go home and come back when you are all finished. Deputies should listen to the questions and replies.
Question No. 46 is for written reply.