Mary Upton
Ceist:429 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he will review a decision not to award a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 the first time buyer's grant on a purchase of a home. [16569/03]
Written Answers. - Housing Grants.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)
The conditions governing the new house grant scheme normally preclude payment of a grant where a person who is party to a joint application 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 the marriage of the person has been dissolved or annulled by court order, or the person is separated under a court order or a deed or separation, and the person and any dependants are in need of housing; and the Minister is satisfied that refusal to pay a grant would cause undue hardship. Each such application is considered on its merits. In this particular case, my Department is awaiting additional information requested from the applicant.