asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the chaotic position obtaining in County Sligo in respect of long delays in the inspection of dwelling houses for reconstruction and new house grants; if he considers that a file should be kept in his Department for up to two months before being sent out to an inspector; if he agrees that a lapse of from three to five months is unreasonable from the time a file is sent out to the time of inspection; and if he will appoint extra housing inspectors to clear up the delay in County Sligo.

I do not accept that lengthy delays in connection with inspections in housing grant cases are occurring in County Sligo. If the Deputy gives me details of any particular applications where he considers that undue delays have occurred, I shall have them examined. Some delays in this and other areas resulted from the heavy work loads arising from the introduction of new grant schemes, but with improved staffing arrangements, these are now being eliminated.