asked the Minister for the Environment when the £1,000 new house grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.

The grant was paid on the 17 August 1981.

15.

asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the delay in acknowledging the application of a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the new housing grants scheme.

An application for a house improvement grant under the scheme for works commenced after 1 November 1977 was received in this case and, as was required under the scheme, the applicant was requested in July 1980 to submit evidence that he had, on or before 21 January 1980, commenced work, purchased the necessary materials or entered into a binding contract to have the work carried out. No reply was received. To qualify for payment of a grant under this scheme the relevant works had to be satisfactorily completed and a claim for payment received in the Department on or before 30 June 1981. No such claim was received in this case and payment may not now be made. There was no undue delay on the part of the Department in the processing of this application.

If this applicant has not commenced work and if the works proposed come within the categories specified it is open to him to apply for a grant under the new scheme of grants which I announced on 14 instant.

16.

asked the Minister for the Environment when the new £1,000 housing grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.

The grant will be paid shortly.

17.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow has not been paid the house grant due to her; and when the grant will be paid.

The grant was paid on 26 August 1981.

18.

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

A grant of £1,000 has now been approved in this case. When the applicant notifies my Department that the house has been satisfactorily completed and occupied by him, an inspection will then be arranged with a view to the early payment of the grant if in order.

19.

asked the Minister for the Environment when the £1,000 housing grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.

A grant of £1,000 has now been approved in this case. When the applicant notifies my Department that the house has been satisfactorily completed and occupied by him, and inspection will then be arranged with a view to the early payment of the grant if in order.

20.

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

Payment of the grant in this case was made on 15 October 1981.

21.

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

The Department's inspector considers that the installation in this case may constitute a fire hazard and for this reason the applicant has been requested to seek the observations of the local fire authority and to submit them to the Department. Further consideration of the application has been deferred pending receipt of these observations.

22.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that a £150 water grant has been due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway for quite some time; and when the grant will be paid.

An external water tap only has been provided in this case. This does not meet the Department's requirements for the payment of a grant which, at minimum, require the provision of a water tap and sink in the house with adequate means for the discharge of sink waste. Payment of a grant may not now be considered as the Housing Regulations 1980 require that all works be satisfactorily completed on or before 30 June 1981. The applicant has been informed of the position on a number of occasions.

Is there any truth in the rumour that Deputy Donnellan is not talking to the Minister of State, because if he was he would not have put down so many questions? Most Deputies get in touch with the Department to deal with everyday problems but if we all used this process to get replies the Minister of State would never be off his feet. Would he like to comment on the allegation that Deputy Donnellan is not talking to any Minister because he has 78 questions on the Order Paper?

We all know Deputy Donnellan is a very affable young man who is on the best of terms with everyone. Deputy Killilea knows that but he is trying to score a few points off his political opponent——

His political opponents seem to be on that side.

——and that is not done in the best of circles.

Can we take it he is canvassing for the second car?

He might be canvassing for a few of the Deputy's votes.

23.

asked the Minister for the Environment when a £1,000 new house grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the work has been completed.

The grant will be paid shortly.

Questions Nos. 24, 25 and 26 are gone for written reply.

27.

asked the Minister for the Environment when a new house grant and a solid fuel heating grant to reduce dependence on oil will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.

The application for a solid fuel heating grant was rejected because the application was received after 1 February 1980, which was the last day for the receipt of applications under this scheme. The application for a new house grant was rejected because the foundations were poured prior to the 26 May 1977.

28.

asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the undue delay in paying the balance of the reconstruction grant due to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.

A grant of £256 for the provision of water and sewerage services was paid to the person named on 9 November 1979. There is no record of the receipt from him of an application for a reconstruction grant.

29.

asked the Minister for the Environment when a house improvement grant will be paid to persons (details supplied) in County Tipperary.

Payment of this grant will be made if and when an inspection, which will be carried out shortly, establishes that the relevant works were completed on or before 30 June 1981. The works had not been completed when the house was inspected in May last.