Vol. 496 No. 3
338 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been granted a new house grant; the criteria required for persons to be eligible for this grant if they are married but have a legal separation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22839/98]
The conditions governing the new house grant scheme normally preclude payment of a grant where a person, or the spouse of such person, had previously purchased or built, individually or with each other, another house for his/her own occupation. However, a grant may be allowed where:
(a) the marriage of the person has been dissolved or annulled by court order, or the person is separated under a court order or deed of separtion; and
(b) the person and any dependants are in need of housing; and refusal to pay the grant would cause undue hardship.
Each such application is considered on its merits. In this particular case, having regard to the applicant's income, it has not been possible to authorise payment of a grant. However, the applicant has now provided further details on her outgoings and I am arranging to have the case reviewed in my Department.
