asked the Minister for the Environment whether a mobile home qualifies in respect of the £1,000 new house grant; and whether owners of mobile homes, who are anxious to buy a new house, are disqualified for this grant on the grounds that they are not firsttime purchasers.

The answer to both parts of the question is "No".

Did the Minister say that mobile homes are not qualified for the £1,000 grant?

Yes. One of the con-ditions of payment of the £1,000 grant is that the dwelling must meet the Department's structural requirements which includes proper foundations. The materials used in the manufacture of mobile homes do not normally comply with grant requirements. In any event, such homes are used without foundations and can be moved from site to site. There is no change in the Department's requirements in this regard as mobile homes did not qualify for grants under the old schemes.

Is the Minister aware that the situation is ambiguous in relation to this matter and varies from council to council and is he now satisfied that this is a uniform decision and that there is no question of them qualifying for the grant? Is the Minister further aware that people who had mobile homes were told initially that they could not qualify for the grant because they were not firsttime occupiers?

I am not so aware.