Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Housing Grants.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

592 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will examine the £3,000 first time buyers house grant scheme and bring forward amendments which would allow 50 per cent of the grant to be payable in cases where a house was being purchased by two persons jointly and where one was not eligible for the grant; and if he will amend and clarify the situation where persons who were previously married or in common law relationships can qualify. [17640/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy):

I have no proposals to allow splitting of the grant where one of two joint purchasers qualifies and the other does not.

Persons who were previously married may, in certain circumstances, qualify for the grant. Section 5(4) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979 – as inserted by section 25 of the Housing Act, 1988 – enables the payment of a £3,000 new house grant to a person who, or whose spouse, had previously purchased or built a house and whose marriage has subsequently been dissolved or annulled by order of a court or who has separated under an order of court or by deed of separation, where the Minister is satisfied as to the person's need for housing and that refusal to pay a grant would cause undue hardship.