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

A grant will be paid when an inspection establishes that the house has been satisfactorily completed and that the other conditions applying to the grant scheme have been complied with.

15.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he will agree to the payment of a house improvement grant towards the cost of an extension which a person (details supplied) in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, erected recently for urgent medical reasons.

A grant cannot be allowed in this case because, contrary to a qualifying condition of the scheme, the work had commenced before an inspection of the house was carried out. The applicant was so informed on 28 March 1982.

16.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he will arrange to pay a new house grant to persons (details supplied) in Ballybofey, County Donegal, in view of the fact that her family has been living in the house for over 12 months and that all works have been completed; and if he will arrange to pay the grant without further delay.

When the person named submits the documents and information requested by my Department on 18 June 1982, an inspection will be arranged with a view to payment of the grant, if in order.

17.

(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for refusing a home improvement grant to a person (details supplied) in Castleblayney, County Monaghan.

This grant was paid in April 1980.

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister said that the grant was paid in 1980?

Yes.

(Cavan-Monaghan): How much was paid?

£225, being two-thirds of the approved cost and it was paid on 14 April 1980.

The question is not that long on the Order Paper.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Can the Minister say if there is any contribution due by the local county council by way of supplementary grant?

I do not have that information; that is a separate question. The Deputy's question referred to my Department and I am not able to give him the information he has just sought. If I had that information I would be only too glad to give it to him.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister repeat the date?

14 April 1980. The Deputy may have been given wrong information.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will it surprise the Minister to know that I received a letter from his Department dated 26 May 1981 and the gentleman who wrote it said he was directed by Mr. Raphael Burke, T.D., Minister for the Environment to refer again to representations in connection with a house improvement grant for Mr. Peter Geoghegan, Lisduff, Loughmourne P.O., Castleblayney, County Monaghan. The letter stated: “Inquiries have been made in the matter and you will be pleased to learn that Mr. Geoghegan's file has now gone for inspection with a view towards payment of the grant in question, if in order.” Does that clear the pitch for the Minister?

In view of the urgency of the matter, and one thing and another, it was my policy at the time to speed up these things. There could have been duplication in the post. I wanted to get the money out to the applicant and I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that. I should like to know if the Deputy is not happy that the person concerned got the grant?

Questions come from the other side of the House and replies come from the Minister's side.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I should like to ask the Minister to be patient for a moment and listen to the situation as it has emerged. Am I right in understanding that the Minister told the House that the grant in question was paid on 14 April 1980?

Yes.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister of State aware that I have read out a letter from his Department, dated 13 months later, stating that the file in connection with the grant had gone to the inspector with a view to the payment of the grant, if in order? That letter was sent out 13 months after the grant had been paid, according to the Minister's file, and I should like to know what he thinks about that.

In view of what the Deputy has said, I will have that matter looked into, but he will appreciate that the information I have is in regard to the payment. I was not aware of that letter being sent to the Deputy — is it May 1980 or May 1981?

(Cavan-Monaghan): It is May 1981.

I apologise, I thought it was May 1980. I will have the matter looked into.

(Cavan-Monaghan): In view of the information which has been given to the Minister for reply to a parliamentary question and in view of the letter that I have, would the Minister not agree that there is slight chaos in his Department?

The Deputy's colleague was there for a while and he did not clear it up. He left that for me to do.

He was not locked out of his office.

Question No. 18, please.