asked the Minister for Local Government why a person (name supplied) in County Clare was not allowed a State grant for a new house.

A grant was not payable in this case because the applicant's income was in excess of the limit fixed for eligibility. He has, however, been granted a certificate of exemption, which qualifies him for the ancillary benefits of stamp duty exemption and a graduated rates remission.

How much in excess of the limit was his income?

The applicant originally gave his income to the 31st December, 1975, at £2,350. The income certificate furnished by his employers to the local authority gave his income as £2,380, including an unspecified bonus payment. In an effort to get the matter straightened out we asked how much the bonus was but it only made matters worse. We then asked the individual for a three-year estimate which we hoped would average out for him in which event we would be prepared to agree but it made it worse still. It was not because we were anxious to knock him but because we could not, within the regulations, include him. The individual is aware of that himself. That was why he did not qualify.

Is the Minister aware that this applicant has eight children under the age of 14 and that he was disqualified because of £30?

Scandalous; disgraceful.

The fact that any person had eight children never seemed to worry people when legislation was being passed here before because we always had a set figure. Maybe we were looking forward to the era of the small family but we always made allowances for a man, his wife and two children, and no allowances for children after the first two. That has been the position for a long time and I have not changed it. I was anxious to help.

Is it not a wife and three children?

No; a family of four. It all depends on whether the Deputy includes a husband or not; he is necessary.

Is the Minister aware that this man's earnings for the 12-month period ending 30th June, 1976, were well below the limit? Will he take this year's earnings into consideration? They were well below £2,350.

The difficulty is that this would be outside the period covered by the application. The final date was 31st December, 1975. We asked him to go back for the two previous years in the hope that a lower income in those years would give him a better chance of qualifying but his bonus was so high that he finished up more than £90 over the limit.

Where there is a will there is a way.

Not in this case. The will is there but the way is not.

According to correspondence from this individual he was only £30 over the limit.

His average for the three years in question, including bonus and overtime, was £95.33 over the limit.

In view of the grave hardship involved for this man would the Minister not make an exception and allow him the grant?

There are no exceptions in law, as Deputy Barrett is aware. If he had made his application a fortnight earlier he would not have to ask anybody but, obviously, he was badly advised. He must have made the application when the house was almost completed.

Could the Minister not have regard to that fact?

I cannot.

Can the Minister not post date the application?

No.

Would the Minister clarify the position in relation to a husband and wife and the number of children because he has created some uncertainty?