asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that application for supplementary grant by a person (name supplied) in Swords, County Dublin has been refused on the grounds that it was made more than six months after the date of the contract although it has been established that the date on the contract is the date the deposit was paid, and that the contract was not in fact signed until more than three months later; and if, in view of this, he will arrange that the grant be paid.

Under the Housing Act, 1966, payment of supplementary grants is a matter for the housing authority, whose decision as to the amount of a grant is, under the Act, final and unappealable. I cannot, therefore, direct payment of grants in particular cases. I am sure, however, that if the position is as stated by the Deputy, the housing authority will reconsider the case on submission of evidence as to the facts.

Is the Minister aware that I have personally appealed to the housing authority in regard to this matter, that the housing authority have refused to review the case, and that this man categorically states, and has supplied evidence to the effect, that his application was received by the housing authority before the six months were completed? Would the Minister take it upon himself to look into this case?

I would be very surprised if a housing authority were to adopt such an attitude. If they received evidence that what the Deputy says is true, I would be surprised if they would not review the case and behave in a more flexible manner.

Would the Minister agree that it is most unlike the Dublin County Council to turn down a case like this if it is as reasonable as the Deputy says it is? Would the Minister say if the reason for turning down many of these matters is that the county council have no money to pay for housing at present?

There is no question of money not being available. This is a question of the date on which the contract was signed. So far as I can gather from the Deputy's question it appears that the housing authority are taking a very rigid attitude in regard to the date. If it is possible to produce evidence that the actual date shown on the contract was not the effective date on which the contract was signed, I will be very surprised if the housing authority do not accept that——

I will take the matter up for the Deputy.

——and refrain from adopting such an inflexible attitude.

Is it not correct to say that there is barely sufficient money in the Custom House to cover the cost of the Minister's Christmas cards?

On the contrary, as the Deputy should know there is more money available for this purpose this year than last year, and last year was a record, the year before was a record, and next year will be another record.

The Minister cannot pay a shilling.

It is also a fact that there is a coalition influence in the particular local authority referred to, and we do come across these cases of an excessively rigid attitude being adopted in matters such as this.

I do not agree.

I hope that it will be possible to induce the coalition majority there to change this attitude of rigidity.

Who comprises the coalition?

The Labour and Fine Gael Parties.

The Minister is aware that this is a question which would normally come before the chief executive officer.

I cannot hear the Deputy.

If I supply the Minister with sufficient evidence, will he take the matter up with the local authority in view of the regimented attitude they have adopted towards the payment of supplementary grants in many cases?

The Deputy should take it up with the Fianna Fáil chairman of the county council.

If the local authority fail in their duty to implement the Act, will the Minister reprimand them?

I will see what can be done.

Is the Minister aware that Deputy Burke is chairman of the Dublin County Council?

And a most gracious chairman he is.

I am on my feet with the permission of the Chair. May the Lord open the Minister's brain and shut his mouth.

I thought the time for the prayer was over.

Order.

Is the Minister aware that Deputy Burke is chairman of the Dublin County Council and what he is trying to do is to make certain that Deputy Foley does not get this person's case through because he did not go to Deputy Burke? There is a little bit of jealousy behind it.

I am well aware of the fact——

The Minister is aware of it? I am delighted to hear it.

——that Deputy Burke is chairman of the Dublin County Council and a very gracious chairman he is. He greets me very graciously on many an occasion.

Question No. 40.

May I ask the Minister on which side he is? Is he on Deputy Foley's or Deputy Burke's side?