asked the Minister for Local Government whether, in order to expedite the final payment of State housing grants, he will consider having final inspections of house qualifying for such grants carried out by appointed officers instead of by inspectors of his Department.

While I am aware that the present system of grant inspections may involve occasional delays, I am not satisfied that the adoption of the Deputy's proposal would lead to greater expedition of payments. The whole position is kept under constant review, and if the Deputy can give me particulars of specific cases of undue delays I will have these cases specially examined.