asked the Minister for the Environment if he will re-examine a house improvement grant application which was declined for a person (details supplied) in County Louth because of the special circumstances.

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

Is the Minister fully conversant with the circumstances of this case and the severe hardship imposed on the applicant through not getting the house improvement grant to which, in the view of many people who made representations, she was entitled?

It may be causing financial problems for the applicant but if the statutory conditions are not complied with there is nothing I can do. I am sorry about that.

Does the inspector's report on the case cover all the circumstances?

All aspects are taken into account. A person who proceeds with work prior to inspection is automatically debarred from the grant.

Is the Minister aware that the work had to proceed in order to make the accommodation habitable? It was not possible in the circumstances to wait for the inspector to call.

We issued an instruction that in the event of storm damage a person could telephone the Department and request an urgent inspection to be carried out. There did not appear to be that kind of urgency in this case.

Will the Minister examine the file again? If he does so sympathetically, I believe he will see the justification of the case.

I will examine it.

7.