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

When the person named supplies the documentation requested by my Department, an inspection will be arranged with a view to payment of a grant, if in order.

578.

asked the Minister for the Environment the specific works which are necessary so that a house improvement grant will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.

In order that approval of a grant could be considered in this case, the carrying out of major necessary works to the basic fabric of the applicant's house would need to have been involved. Generally such repairs would comprise in the main replacement or substantial repair of a roof and external walls.

Replacement of windows and external doors does not normally qualify for grant assistance but an allowance is made in the approved cost for the repair of seriously deteriorated windows and doors where such work is considered necessary to prevent the deterioration of the house and provided these repairs form part of a larger scheme of major necessary works and their cost does not exceed half the total cost of the works. A grant is not payable where only the proposed replacement of windows and a door was involved as was the position in this case.