What are the exact conditions a purchaser must fulfil to ensure the payment of the grant? Is just being in occupation of the house purchased adequate, or will his Department require proof of title or some legal document that the applicant has purchased the house? The Minister said "occupation"; is that all?

No, that is not all. An applicant certainly will have to prove that he is the legal owner of the new house. Details of the scheme are being circulated to all local authorities today. If the Deputy wishes to see these details I shall let him have them this afternoon.

The Minister spoke about a commencement date of 2 October and applicants having completed or signed contracts. Could he clarify exactly what he means by the signature of a contract? There seems to be some confusion among solicitors and so on about what contract the Minister is referring to. For example, is it the title, the contract to purchase or to what exactly is he referring?

Any arrangements made or contracts entered into to purchase houses before 2 October will not be eligible. I think the date of commencement of eligibility announced, 2 October, has been very generous. I repeat that the operative date is 2 October. Subject to compliance with the grant conditions, applicants must occupy the private house before the grant is payable. That would assume that the contract has been completed and evidence to that effect will have to be furnished to local authorities.

I appreciate that, but I am sure the Minister is aware that there will bound to be borderline cases with regard to the operative date of 2 October. For example, I have had a number of inquiries about what contract the Minister is referring to when he says that contracts signed before 2 October will not render applicants eligible for this grant. Could the Minister say what precisely is meant by the contract?

Usually when one is buying a house there is a solicitor dealing with the transactions. For example, if it is a new house the applicant will sign a form with his and the builder's solicitor drawing up the necessary documentation. As soon as a purchaser signs the contract to purchase a new house, that becomes the operative date. In the case of a second-hand house the same thing would apply: one would be called in by one's solicitor and asked to complete the necessary documentation, that is, signature of the contract at that stage. The deed of title may not be presented on that precise date but certainly the contract for purchase would be signed by both parties and that would then become the operative date.

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