asked the Minister for Local Government if, arising from his Department's regulations on new house grants as from 1st January, 1976, water and sewerage grants cannot be applied for and obtained by grant applicants who do not qualify for new house grants because of their means.

Where an application for a new house grant was received after 31st December, 1975, and is rejected on income or other grounds, the house will not qualify for a separate grant in respect of water and sewerage facilities installed during the construction of the house.

Would the Minister reconsider his decision of 31st December and look again at this whole question of grants for new houses?

I have looked at it a number of times and I am afraid I am not in a position to reconsider this matter.

If the Minister will not reconsider their total abolition, will he at least reconsider the question of income limits for eligibility which are so miserably low at the moment?

That is under consideration. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that, if somebody is not entitled to a new house grant according to the regulations, it would be rather foolish to make him entitled to a water and sewerage grant for the same type of house.

Would the Minister not consider extending it for the new house and for the water and sewerage? A figure of £1,950, plus £100 for each dependant up to a maximum of three, is a miserably low income limit for new house grants. It bars large numbers of people from getting their new house grants. Would the Minister consider increasing that limit?

I agree it is low and I should like to be in a position to increase it but at present it is not possible to do so. This is not stopping people from applying. A tremendous number of people are still availing of it for the water and sewerage grant.

Since the Minister has agreed it is a low figure, I am sure he will dissociate himself from the comments of his Parliamentary Secretary who said people who are not eligible for it are very wealthy people. Surely the Minister would not describe somebody with slightly over £1,950 a year as wealthy.

I do not know what the Deputy is referring to and it is not part of this question.

The Minister was sitting beside him when he made the comment.

"To hell with the rich". Is that the Minister's reply?

I have dwelt at some length on this question. A final supplementary from Deputy Blaney.

Does this bar apply to new houses only? It does not interfere with group water schemes or existing houses?

No.

I was afraid it might.

I thought the Deputy was more in touch with the way things were being done. Recently he has been very up to date on these matters.

It is not the way things are being done but the way things are going.