192 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if redress is available to a disabled person who is unable to draw down a disabled persons grant, where the contractor is unable or has failed to produce the C2 tax certificate and where the contractor has held itself out as being an authorised installer for a semi-State company as exemplified in a case (details supplied) in County Cork. [10455/02]

As part of Government measures to tackle tax evasion, the payment of grants by public authorities is conditional on certain details being furnished of the contractor's C2 or tax clearance certificate. This requirement applies strictly to the payment of all housing grants by public authorities and cannot be waived in any individual case. An unsuccessful grant applicant might, in the circumstances presented, seek redress from the contractor. Details of the case might also be drawn to the attention of the semi-State body and of the Revenue Commissioners.