asked the Minister for the Environment when a house improvement grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, who was notified three months ago that work was fully completed.

An inspection will be carried out within a few weeks with a view to payment of the grant.

67.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of applications received from the Cork area for house improvement grants.

68.

asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the unnecessary delays in carrying out house inspections in the Cork area, he will state (a) the number of inspectors employed for the area and (b) if he proposes to employ additional inspectors to cope with the increased volume of work.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together. The total number of applications for house improvement grants received in respect of County Cork up to 27 June 1986 was 10,886. Generally speaking, there are no undue delays in carrying out inspections in the area. However, if the Deputy has any particular case in mind I will look into the position, on receipt of particulars. Inspectors are deployed on a regional rather than on a county basis; in the region which comprises Counties Cork and Waterford 19 inspectors are employed, some of whom also do new house inspection work.

About 70 additional inspectors have already been engaged to cope with the volume of work under the scheme. There are no proposals at present to recruit further inspectors although the position will continue to be kept under review.