Vol. 498 No. 2
221 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if a first time buyers grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 in view of the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27032/98]
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: first, 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 separation and second, 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 applicants' income, it has not been possible to authorise payment of a grant.
