Galway TD Padraic McCormack has lambasted the Government's distribution of housing repair grants, which he says has created a "scandalous situation".

The Fine Gael member, commenting on the progress of the scheme so far this year, said the Housing Minister should ditch the grants, instead of allowing applicants to undergo the lengthy assessment procedure, only to be told there is no funding available.

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Mr McCormack said: "The Government would be as well now to abolish these schemes rather than now having people make an application, having their applications assessed, having medical officers and engineers calling out and assessing applications and the eligibility for them and then finding out that no funding is available.

"It would be more honest on behalf of the Government if they simply announced that the schemes had been abandoned because the finance has not been provided as a result of Government's mismanagement of finances over the last number of years," added the TD.

However, Galway City Council dismissed Mr McCormack's claim that no funding had been issued.

(PR/JM)