asked the Minister for the Environment the reason that applicants for new house grants were not informed in writing that the garage had to be a different floor level to the remainder of the house to qualify for a grant and why those applicants were not made aware that rejection of a grant application meant also the rejection of a mortgage subsidy, and if he will make a statement on the situation.

It is a condition of the £1,000 new house grant scheme that a house must comply in all respects with the Department's requirements. These include a fire precaution that a garage floor shall be 100 mm — 4 inches — under the floor level of house in certain types of case. The fire precautions are detailed in my Department's outline specification and also in the HAI memorandum both of which are available to all applicants. Normally every applicant obtains a copy of this and I am accordingly satisfied that there is adequate written notice to applicants of the grant requirements in this respect.

In relation to the second part of the Deputy's question, it is clearly spelt out in the memorandum referred to that an applicant for subsidy must first qualify for a grant and it follows that a rejection of a grant application also involves rejection for subsidy.

Will the Minister admit that changes were made in the criteria for grant applications vis-a-vis the floor level between the garage and the private house over the past two years?

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.

Can I have an answer to that?

There is no change.

Was there a change over the past two years?

I am not aware of any change.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper. I have allowed a question on Private Notice submitted by Deputy Bertie Ahern. There were three parts in the question which the Deputy submitted. I ruled parts (a) and (b) out of order and allowed part (c). I ask Deputy Ahern please to read the relevant portion of the question.