andMr. L. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment the steps taken by his Department to notify applicants under the old housing grant scheme for new houses and re-construction grants that if they did not inform the Department of the completion of the work before 31 December, 1978 they would not be paid their grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Grant Scheme.
7.
Applicants for housing grants under the old schemes did not have to inform my Department of the completion of their work before 31 December 1978 in order to get payment of their grants. The position is that works had to be completed by 31 December 1978 and payment of grants claimed, in writing, by 31 January 1980. Applicants were informed of these conditions by press notices published in July 1977, 1978 and 1979.
Would the Minister agree that in rural areas people do not often read advertisements in papers? Would the Minister not agree that it would be much more fair to notify applicants by post from his Department? Would he not agree further that as there are not very many applicants he might reconsider the position?
There is a huge volume of work on which the inspectors of the Department are completely overworked. Any extra activity such as this will delay the payment of grants which we are anxious to get out as quickly as possible.
That is a joke.
I would consider that sufficient press notice was given.
Is the Minister aware that the people he has ruled out are in the main very poor, people who, because they had not got the necessary money to complete the job in a short time, dragged it out over a considerable period and are now left holding the baby with no money to finish the job? Can the Minister say if that was his intention? If part of either the State or local authority supplementary grant was paid, does that not constitute an application made before the due date? Furthermore would he not ensure that these people are paid the money due to them?
Ample time was made available to complete the work under the old schemes. It is not my fault that the work was not completed. There had to be a deadline; it could not go on forever.
Does the Minister not agree that where people were paid portion of the grant at least his Department should notify the relevant local authority, particularly where such people had applied to the local authority in time and where they are still being deprived of the supplementary grant from the local authority in respect of both new houses and reconstruction grants because of the action of his Department?
As I said in my reply, there had to be a deadline and sufficient notice was given people as regards the application and the completion of the work. It could not go on indefinitely.
The Minister has not answered the question I asked. Where the Department have paid part of the grant, in circumstances in which an application was made in time to the local authority for their supplementary grant —in respect of both new houses and re-construction grants — can the Minister not even notify the local authorities now that the Department have paid part of the grant so that the local authority can pay their proportion?
I am not aware of any case in respect of which the Department failed to notify a local authority that the Department's portion of the grant had been paid — where an application was made in time to the local authority. If the Deputy is aware of any such case I should be glad to have details.
Question No. 8.
I am sorry to have to cross the Chair but it appears as if the Minister is now getting away with pretending he does not know, when in fact he must have it on his file. It is unfair of the Ceann Comhairle to protect him.
I think the Deputy should withdraw the statement that the Chair is protecting the Minister. We have had seven questions only answered in 30 minutes. The situation is this: there are many Deputies who have questions down and who will not have an opportunity ——
Including myself.
—— of having their questions answered if we proceed at this rate. We should try to be reasonable in the number of supplementaries. Question No. 8.
I am being reasonable.
Since you are expressing legitimate and understandable concern, Sir, about Deputies' questions not being answered because of the rate of progress — if the Whips of the two Opposition Parties, who have most of these questions down, convey to you a clear indication that Opposition Deputies are prepared to have a slow movement of such questions in order to get satisfactory supplementary replies — would the Chair accept that as being legitimate and enable us to extract decent answers from Ministers of State?
No, I am responsible for the number of supplementaries on each question.
Then, Sir, where is the concern for Deputies, if the Deputies themselves who have the questions down clearly indicate to you, through their Whips, that they are prepared——
Deputy——
Let me make my point, Sir, without meaning any disrespect to you. If the Deputies in question clearly indicate that they are prepared to slow down the rate of answering of questions in order that supplementaries can be answered properly, will you, as Ceann Comhairle of this Chamber, accept that and enable us to pursue Ministers who are not giving us satisfactory answers?
No, I will decide on a number of supplementaries——
Then, Sir, you are leaving yourself open to the charge that you are protecting the Minister.
Question No. 8.