Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment if a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is an applicant for a new house grant; the date on which he made application; the number of occasions on which he has communicated with the Department about the grant; when the grant will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There is no record in my Department of the receipt of a new house grant application or corresponsence relation to a grant from the person named.

The question asked the number of occasions on which the person involved has communicated with the Department.

There is no record in my Department of an application in this case.

That was not the question. The question asked how often the person concerned communicated with the Department in connection with his application, which the Department say they have not received.

I have no correspondence on the file in regard to it.

Is the Minister saying he never heard of the application?

The Deputies opposite can read the question. With regard to the name of the person which Deputy Fitzpatrick gave to the Ceann Comhairle's office, there is no record in my Department of receipt of a new house grant application or correspondence relating to a grant from the person named. I shall not divulge the name of the person.

Will the Minister please answer the question? How often has the person communicated with the Department on the subject of this apparently lost application?

I have not that information.

Why not?

I do not know. There is no application in my Department.

The question asks how often the person has communicated with the Department. Obviously he has been in touch with the Department on a number of occasions. The Minister must know how often he has communicated with the Department. Will he please tell the House?

Much of the time of my officials is wasted with a lot of wrong information.

We can appreciate that.

This man has communicated with the Department but it appears the Minister is not able to give us any information.

I have nothing on the file to say he has communicated with the Department.

Question No. 22 is for written reply.

23.