asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the delay in the payment of a reconstruction grant outstanding for almost three years to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

I would refer the Deputy to the reply of 13 December 1979 to Question No. 416. An application form was subsequently issued to the applicant for completion, but was not returned to my Department. However, as a result of recent representations from the Deputy an inspection is being arranged, in the course of which the applicant will be asked to complete a further application form.

Is the Minister aware that the applicant sent in a completed application form three years ago and that when I inquired about the matter three months ago I was told there had been no such application? Does the Minister know I sent a photocopy of the original acknowledgement from the Department which was dated three years ago?

Three application forms were sent out to the applicant. I cannot account for what happened three years ago. The National Coalition were in office then.

The application was sent in during the term of office of the Deputy's party.

What about the intervening three years? Fianna Fáil take three years to issue a cheque. Will there be money in the bank to meet it?

There will be more money there than when the Deputy's party were in office.

32.