asked the Minister for the Environment the number of new house grants paid in the years 1977 and 1978 in each local authority, the length of time each application took to be processed, and the grant paid to the applicant.

As the information requested in the first part of the question is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.

Regarding the second part of the question, statistics are not kept of the length of time that each application takes to be processed and grants paid.

Following is the statement:

Number of New House Grants paid by the Department in the Years 1977 and 1978 —by area.

Note: Separate figures are not available in respect of Borough Corporations, U.D.C.s and Town Commissioners' areas. Grants paid in these areas are included in the respective counties.

Could the Minister give any indication of the average length of time taken for the processing of grants?

It is a long tabular statement.

If the Minister wishes I will put down another question. I do not wish to distress his Department unduly. If the information is there or is available to him now it might save them the bother. May I ask what is the average length of time it takes for an application for a housing grant to be paid?

A new house grant?

Yes.

I shall see if I have the necessary information—no, I have not a figure for the average time.