(Dublin North-West) asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the changes in measurements for new house grants; and the effect these changes will have.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New House Grants.
2.
The changes referred to do not affect the total permitted floor area of a new grant-aided house, which remains the same as before. The limits on the size, layout and finish of garages announced recently are designed to provide clearer guidelines to applicants for new house grants, to prevent abuses in certain cases and to reduce the number of applications which have to be rejected because of excessive floor area of the house. Generally, the effect of the changes should be to clarify the position in relation to eligibility for potential applicants.
Why has the Minister introduced the requirement that if a garage wall is plastered the garage will be included in the overall measurements of the house even though it is not a residential area?
The Deputy who has great experience in this area must be aware that a number of garages were built for the express purpose of being converted into living quarters. In fact, they were designed in such a way that the change could be made a short time after occupancy. In extreme cases, from some of the plans I have inspected, it would not be possible to drive a car into those garages because of the position of access. In a number of cases reluctantly I had to refuse grants. Since clarification of the position was needed I had to inform the authorities. I should like to repeat that there has not been a change in the limit on the size and layout of a house that may be grant-aided. I have been endeavouring to clear up the position with regard to garages that we all agree are intended for conversion into living quarters.
Is it a crime to put a radiator in a garage, as the Minister appears to be saying? Is it a crime to plaster the walls of a garage?
That is comment and argument.
Why did the Minister introduce a regulation that will deny a person a new house grant if he has a radiator in his garage?
The Minister has answered that question.
He has not.
It is not a crime to do any of those things. It is not a crime to put in wash facilities or finish on walls.
It is a housing crime because the Minister will not pay the grant.
It is obvious that the purpose of such garages was not to facilitate the garaging of a car but so that it could be converted to living accommodation in the near future.
Will the Minister agree that it is good housing policy to encourage people to enlarge their homes? A person who has built a garage, and who at some future date may be anxious to enlarge his home by taking that garage in as part of his residence, should not be considered guilty of a misdemeanour by officials and denied a new house grant. Those people build their homes with hard earned money and savings and the grant is a small percentage of the total cost of the house. What is behind the introduction of this new circular? The Minister seems to be very punitive in his attitude.
I am not. I am sure the Deputy will agree that the new house grants for extensions will give a considerable boost to those anxious to carry out that work. I had hoped that the Deputy would accept that it is reasonable to ask people not to include in their plans something that purports to be a garage but is obviously to be converted soon after the grant is paid.
It does not make sense and the Minister knows that.