asked the Minister for the Environment when payment of a reconstruction grant which was passed in July 1979, will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.

Arrangements have been made for an early inspection with a view to the approval and payment of improvement and water and sewerage grants, if in order.

12.

asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the delay in the payment of a fuel conversion grant to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The grant in this case will be paid very shortly. Any delay in dealing with the case has been due to the unprecedented number of applications with my Department at present.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Minister give the date on which his Department were notified that the work had been completed?

I do not have that information. All I know is that the application form was received on 11 December last, the case was referred to the Department's inspector on 23 January and the inspection was carried out on 20 February.

(Cavan-Monaghan): May I take it that as from 20 February the grant was cleared and ready for payment?

Yes. The works were found to be completed satisfactorily.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister not think that is a long delay?

Yes, but in view of the position in my Department at that time and the very heavy numbers of applications, staff had to be diverted to other essential work.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Has order been restored from chaos?

Order has been restored but there never was chaos.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister could not get in.

In this House I said that I had never been denied access to my office at any time. It is very low of the Deputy to come in here making such remarks, and I am going to stay in my Department as well.

asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the delay in the payment of a solid fuel conversion grant to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when payment will issue.

Any delay in dealing with this case has been due to the unprecedented number of applications at present with my Department. The case is being referred to the inspector for a report and the grant will be paid if his report indicates that this is in order.

(Cavan-Monaghan): When were the Department notified that the work had been completed? That is important.

The application form was received on 1 February 1980 but I do not have the information when the Department were notified that the work had been completed.