asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that inspectors in his Department are notifying people of their proposed visits to inspect houses for both home improvement and new house grants and are not turning up on the day they specify: the total number of inspectors in his Department servicing this area: the status or grades within the inspectorate: if he is satisfied that there are sufficient numbers to do the job: if he is aware of the serious delays being experienced by people who have outstanding applications: if he will take action to alleviate these delays and if he will make a statement on the entire housing grant position.

I am not so aware. The total number of inspectors is 54, of which nine are supervising inspectors, 18 are housing inspectors, five are senior building inspectors and 22 are building inspectors. In addition, arrangements are being made to fill an existing permanent vacancy at supervising inspector level. I am satisfied that there are sufficient inspectors to provide a reasonable service to applicants. I am not aware of any general problem of undue delays in carrying out inspections but if the Deputy provides details of any cases he may have in mind I will look into the matter.

This is a very serious situation. Is the Minister telling the House that there are only 18 housing inspectors available in the Twenty-six Counties to inspect new houses and existing houses that have had improvements carried out on them?

Yes, 18 housing inspectors.

In the whole country?

Yes.

This is very serious. Does the Minister realise the high cost of housing at the moment? People have bridging finance, borrowings and mortgages, and the interim period between the bridging financing and mortgage deed signing often varies due to the legal constraints and people are waiting for housing grants and housing inspections for a long time. Is the Minister aware of the serious situation affecting many young couples throughout the country? Would he not regard only 18 housing inspectors as totally insufficient to serve the housing inspections needed? Would he give any indication of the number of housing inspectors in the Department prior to 1980? Has he any proposals to increase this number in the next year?

I have not got information about what the numbers were prior to 1980 but I have no proposals to increase them. As I indicated, we have not found there is undue delay. I have indicated to the Deputy that if he knows of cases where there is undue delay and brings them to my attention I will have them dealt with.

I can tell the Minister offhand——

You cannot, Deputy, you must ask a question.

I gave him the facts by asking the question. On 12 September a supervisory inspector received a file for a person in County Galway and that file has not been used by any housing inspector to inspect this house. On 15 September the same thing happened. In both cases the people are in severe financial difficulties. They need their housing grants. It is in their budgeted finance in order to meet their commitments. It is a serious situation.

That is not a question.

Could the Minister give us any information as to the total number of new houses——

That is not in the question.

I would like to persuade and encourage people to keep to the question. The Deputy is now getting into discussion on the whole housing situation.

This is really serious.

It may be, but I am not going to allow a discussion on housing which is a very wide subject. This deals with the number of inspectors available. I wish Deputies would study Standing Orders.

When we have the Minister here it is the only opportunity we have to get information.

But that has no reference to the question.

Is the Minister aware that inspectors on inspecting houses often compliment people for the quality of the house and of the improvements that have been done, yet when they return to the Department——

This is about inspectors not keeping appointments.

It is all to do with inspections——

It is not. This is basically about inspectors failing to keep appointments.

May I ask another supplementary question?

If you ask a general question, but that does not mean that you can talk about Aras an Uachtarain and every house in the country.

That is a big State mansion. We must compare like with like.

They would not be looking for a grant anyway.

Inspectors compliment people for the standard of the house they have and of improvements done, yet the Department notify these people in writing that their application for a grant has been rejected. Why is this not done immediately? Can the Minister tell the House that he and his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, and the Government are totally committed to expending the payment of housing grants and house improvements grants? Can he tell the House that no effort has been made to stifle the mechanism whereby applications can be processed and final inspections carried out?

We are very anxious that when work is completed the people would be paid as soon as possible. The idea of a grant is to help people. Whether it is an improvement grant or a new house grant does not matter. If the Deputy puts any points to me on paper I will reply to him and respond to his request.

Ceist 6. I am moving on.

What criterion is used by way of direction to inspectors vis-à-vis the location on which they do inspections at any time? Is is on a county basis, an electoral division basis, a town area or what?

Again, that is a matter we leave with the inspectors and the supervisory body. We do not issue directives as to how they should do their work.

Are any criteria laid down?

No.

Is it wide open to the inspectors to do as they see fit?

They are competent.

We appreciate that.