asked the Minister for the Environment the total number of applications received under the new home improvement grant scheme as at 31 January 1986; and if he will set out (a) number of applications processed to date; and (b) number of inspectors allocated to carry out inspections and the number of inspections carried out to 31 January 1986; and if it is proposed to increase the number of inspectors to process these claims.
Written Answers. - Home Improvement Grant Scheme.
64.
A total of 32,000 applications were received up to and including 31 January 1986 and 11,500 approximately have been inspected in the same period. There are 61 inspectors engaged on inspection work, some of whom are also employed on new house inspections. Since the introduction of the scheme a number of retired inspectors, who were familiar with the work, have been re-engaged, a bonus scheme has been introduced for the permanent inspectorate staff, and as already announced, arrangements are now being made to recruit further temporary inspectors.
65.
asked the Minister for the Environment the delay which will be experienced by applicants pending inspection under the new house improvement grants in view of the large number of applicants in County Wexford; the number of inspectors in County Wexford who are doing inspections; and when an applicant whose application was acknowledged on 8 January 1986 in Wexford town can expect to be inspected.
The house improvement grants scheme is not yet in operation a sufficient period of time to give an accurate assessment of the average length of time between receipt of an application and the carrying out of an inspection. For reasons of flexibility in arranging inspections, my Department's inspectors are assigned on a regional and not on a county basis. This is intended to allow uniform coverage of all areas within the regions. Inspections in all cases are carried out as quickly as possible. A number of measures have been taken to increase the Department's capacity to carry out inspections including the re-engagement of a number of retired inspectors, who were familiar with the work, the introduction of a bonus scheme for the permanent inspectorate staff and the recruitment, now in progress, of further temporary inspectors.