asked the Minister for the Environment when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid a solid fuel grant.

3.

asked the Minister for the Environment when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid a housing grant.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take questions numbers 2 and 3 together. There is no record in my Department of the receipt of an application for a solid fuel grant from the person named. Grants of £75 for the installation of water and sewerage services and £140 for reconstruction were allowed to him in 1967. The former grant was paid in March 1967 and an instalment of the latter in January 1970. The applicant had not claimed payment of the balance of £70 on or before 31 January 1980, and, consequently, payment is now precluded by section 23 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979.

Am I to take it from what the Minister said that because the applicant failed to claim a grant that was due to him as far back as 1967 he is not entitled to the grant now even though it is only £80?

He got part of the grant but if the work was in order and completed he was due a balance of £70 on 31 January 1980. He did not claim a payment and therefore it is precluded under the Act.

What Act?

Section 23 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

Could the Minister quote it for me please because I think it is a totally ridiculous situation?

I explained that yesterday. The applicant had not claimed payment of the balance on or before 31 January 1980. We must have had a letter in claiming the grant.