asked the Minister for the Environment the number of house surrender grant applications and house improvement grant applications received in his Department between 24 March and 31 March 1987.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Grant Applications.
16.
As the processing of applications for the £5,000 surrender grant is a matter for the local authority concerned up to the stage of certification for payment, the information requested is not available in my Department. The number of house improvement grant applications received in my Department between 24 March and 31 March 1987, inclusive, was 1,168.
Will the Minister say whether those applicants who in good faith made application prior to the Budget Statement which discontinued the grants will, by implication, be legally entitled to the grant which was in operation at the time of application?
The question merely asks the numbers.
Perhaps I may clarify the matter for the Deputy. I take it we are talking about the £5,000 surrender grant?
Yes.
All those who had received approval in principle from the local authority involved on 27 March will, of course, be paid. All applications of those who can establish they had a legally binding and irrevocable commitment on that day will also be processed and the grant paid as long as they satisfy the other requirements of the scheme.
In relation to applications for home improvement grants received between 24 March and 31 March, which was budget day, can the Minister say whether those applicants are legally deemed to be entitled to the grant which was in force at the time of application, particularly as many of those applications were acknowledged by the Department prior to the Budget Statement?
The acknowledgement of receipt of application in the Department would not convey eligibility under the scheme. It was always a condition of the home improvement grant scheme that an inspection had to take place before commencement of work. As far as the decision of 27 March is concerned, all those who had an inspection carried out by the Department's inspector will qualify for the grant and will be paid in due course, as long as they comply with the other terms of the scheme.
In a litigious society such as we have at present, perhaps the Minister might indicate whether those applicants who made application in good faith prior to the budget when they were legally entitled to the grant, all other things being in order, are legally entitled to the grant despite the fact that a prior inspection had not been carried out?
Many people apply for grant assistance under a whole range of grant schemes but never have intention of undertaking the projects. In fact, that can cover up to 60 per cent of all grant applications made but that would not convey eligibility——
Has the Minister taken legal advice to the effect that those applicants are not entitled to the grants?
My statement of clarification was unambiguous. All those who had made applications for home improvement grants and had an inspection carried out by a duly authorised officer, irrespective of whether approval was subsequently furnished and as long as the job was inspected, and it complied with the other terms of the scheme, will be grant aided. I should like to think the Deputy would not help to increase the litigation problem——
We are aware of all that waffle, but our question asked what legal advice did the Minister get as to the legal standing of the applicants who applied before the termination date?
It does not arise on this question. I was asked to give particular numbers but if the Chair is prepared to allow me to go into greater detail on this matter, which I have already done in public I would be quite happy to do so.
The Minister invited himself into this area——
On the contrary, it was the former Minister who made a muddle of the schemes and I am trying to clear up the mess he left behind.
Will the Minister confirm that in ordinary circumstances those whose applications had been acknowledged as being in order prior to the termination of the grants would have been declared valid applications at that time?
When the Government decision was taken on 27 March it was clear and unambiguous that only those who had inspections carried out by and inspector of the Department would be entitled to and would be grant assisted as far as improvement grant schemes were concerned. That is the position and I cannot see how the Deputy is reading other than this simple language into it.