asked the Minister for the Environment the number of new house grant applications made for County Mayo for the years 1982, 1983 and 1984; the number of approvals granted in the same years; the number of refusals for the same periods; and the number of refusals in the same years on the grounds that the floor area exceeded the limit allowed in the regulations.

4.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of new house grant applications made for the whole country for the years 1982, 1983 and 1984; the number of approvals granted in the same years; the number of refusals for the same period; and the number of refusals in the same years on the grounds that the floor area exceeded the limit allowed in the regulations.

I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. The following table shows the numbers of applications for new house grants and the numbers of certificates of approval issued during the years 1982, 1983 and 1984 for (a) County Mayo and (b) the whole country.

The information requested regarding rejections is not readily available because statistics of rejected applications are not kept by my Department. With the available staff resources, it would not be possible to have such information extracted without seriously affecting the progress of day to day work.

I reject the Minister's response as being totally unacceptable. Is he suggesting that he cannot, from the computer in his Department, let me know the number of applications that were rejected in the relevant years?

I cannot give the information for the period mentioned and I gave the reasons why. If I were to get this information it would mean taking staff from the operation and implementation of the grant scheme. The priority of the Department is to deal with applications as they come in. The important thing is to ensure that grant applications are processed and when approved to see that the money is paid out as quickly as possible.

I am putting it to the Minister that the reason he will not give that information is because he does not want to draw attention to the fact that a considerable number of applications are being turned down for the reasons suggested in my question. Is the Minister aware that many applications are being rejected because the inspectors say the floor area is in excess of the guidelines and that a different yardstick is being used when these applications are being processed?

No different yardstick is being used. On 30 November 1984 we advertised in the three main daily papers and The Cork Examiner drawing applicants' attention to what they should do and the precautions they should take. There is no question of any alteration in policy. If a house is within the guidelines the applicant will get the grant, but if people build beyond a specific measurement they will not be paid. We do not want to see this happen and that is why we advertised in the daily newspapers. We wanted to ensure that people would conform to the specifications but if people build a house larger than the measurements set down for grant purposes. I regret they cannot be paid.

A final supplementary.

Would the Minister agree that approval for garage space, and the inclusion of space for garages in plans being submitted for grant aid purposes is at the discretion of the inspector? Will. the Minister confirm that there has been a very large increase in the number of applications refused for that reason and that this is done simply to save money by reducing the number of allocations and thereby reducing the cost to the Exchequer?

I totally disagree with that. The Deputy is indulging in a little political play acting. There is no question of inspectors having discretion as to whether grants should be paid. If a house is built according to the specifications, the applicant will get the grant. No inspector has the right to deprive anybody of that payment. There is no policy to withhold grants. As I said, last November we advertised in the papers setting out all the necessary details. Surely the Deputy is not serious.

I could give much more credence to the Minister's reply if he had been more forthcoming with the figures I asked for. Is it not a fact that there is a big increase in representations being made to the Minister and his Department by Deputies from all sides of the House concerning the disallowance of grant applications for the reasons I stated, that is because they are over size?

Yes.

That is the answer I wanted.

Where an inspector finds that the house is larger than the prescribed size for grant purposes he turns it down. Every Deputy has the right to approach my Department, my Minister or myself to have a case re-examined, and that we will do.

Give the figures to prove that this is not a new phenomenon.

If it is within the designated size for grant purposes it will be paid. I want to assure the Deputy of that.

Will the Minister make available the necessary figures to prove that point?

There is no question of having to prove anything. The facts are there.

The Minister is hiding behind the figures.

I am calling the next question.

5.