Prospective new home owners can still apply for the first-time buyers' grant, but only if they have already signed contracts or begun building, the Taoiseach confirmed today.
He was commenting in the Dáil following a claim by the Labour environment spokesman, Mr Eamon Gilmore, that applicants for the grant were being refused following the announcement of the scheme's abolition last Thursday.
Mr Gilmore argued abolition of the grant could not take legal effect until it was ratified by Dáil.
"Applicants are being told that unless the contracts have been signed before the 14th of November, the Department will not accept the application, [but] this House has 21 sitting days to decide this issue," Mr Gilmore said.
The Taoiseach agreed the Department of Finance should not be refusing applications if the contract to purchase or build had been signed or, in the case of a self-built house, if the foundations have been poured on or before November 14th. Anyone meeting the criteria would have until December 4th to apply, he said.
But Mr Gilmore reiterated that the Dáil had not voted on the change and that therefore it should not yet take effect.
Sinn Féin TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain, said the Government was ignoring the rules of democracy by introducing the ban before it was passed by the Dáil.
"The Government shouldn't be proceeding to implement something before this house has decided it," he said.
The Minister for Finance Mr McCreevy last week abolished the scheme as part of the cuts announced in the Book of Estimates.