asked the Minister for the Environment if he will arrange adequate publicity to notify all applicants for house improvement grants of the regulation he has introduced whereby such grants will not be paid unless the work is completed by 1 October 1980.

Adequate publicity has already been given to the requirements that a grant for house improvement works, including works to reduce dependence on oil, will be paid only where the approved work has been completed and a request for payment has been received in my Department before 1 October 1980.

However, I intend to arrange further publicity of these requirements later in the year.

When does the Minister propose to arrange for further publicity?

I have not yet decided on a date. Advertisements appeared in the newspapers two months ago outlining the position. As I stated in my reply, the work must be completed before 1 October and the applicants were notified accordingly by my Department.

Will the Minister accept that there would be no point in closing the stable after the horse had gone, that if the work cannot be completed it would not be of any advantage to people to be reminded of this condition? Would the Minister undertake to send a circular letter to all those who have been approved for reconstruction grants reminding them of the situation?

About 40,000 applicants were notified on 12 February by circular letter. Some of the applicants may have applied last year and therefore would have their applications processed in the usual way. The Deputy need not have any worries.

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