asked the Minister for the Environment the number of applications for the £1,000 grants for the first three months of 1978 and the corresponding figure for the first three months of 1979.

The numbers of such applications received in my Department in the first three months of 1978 and 1979 were 3,406 and 2,022 respectively.

Would the Minister agree that that is a drop in the number of applications which would indicate that there is a fall-off in the number of houses being built?

There is a drop in the figure but the reason is that people cannot post their applications.

That is a good excuse but it is not the case.

That is the reason.

Would the Minister now accept that the £1,000 grant scheme as outlined in the manifesto is a most unfair method of grant-aiding the building of houses? For example, the children of rich families who never owned a house before will qualify for the £1,000 grant whereas a young man who owns a poor house, no matter what condition it is in, will not qualify if he wants to improve his housing circumstances. This militates against the lower income group of the community. Would the Minister, after his two years' experience in office, not abolish this system and introduce one in keeping with the cost of living and in keeping with the need of families who are building houses?

I have no plans at present to revise that scheme.

Is the Minister aware that the postal strike did not interfere with the applications for the £1,000 grant because we did not have a postal strike in the first three months of 1979?

The postal strike started in February. That is the reason why the number has dropped. It applies more to the country than to the Dublin area.

Why does the Minister not consider changing the grant at present?

It was and is intended for first-time owners or buyers of houses regardless of means. If it complies with the capacity limitation, everybody is entitled to it.

The Minister is missing the point. He should——

This is not the time for making a point. It is supposed to be Question Time.

Arising out of my question and a lack of reply to it, in the case where a wealthy young couple who never owned a house before proceed to build a house they will qualify for the £1,000 grant. In the case of a hard-working father of a young family who owns a dilapidated house in very bad condition, he will not qualify. This is very unfair. It is time the Minister considered the lack of consideration for this in the Fianna Fáil manifesto before the 1977 election which was sold to the people as being a £1,000 grant for all who bought sites, not to build houses.

Question No. 12.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Might I ask the Minister a question?

Question No. 12.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister was replying to Deputy Harte. That is sharp practice.

It is all sharp practice.