asked the Minister for the Environment if he will provide grants for the provision of bathrooms in local authority houses where none exist; and if he will also provide such grants for tenant-purchasers of local authority houses.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Bathroom Grants
15.
Under the scheme of house improvement grants which I announced recently grants are available for the provision of bathrooms in all houses without them, both local authority and private. Tenants of rented local authority houses who provide bathrooms with the consent of the local authority qualify for grants. Alternatively the local authority may do the work with the aid of a grant from the Department. The grants are also available to tenant purchasers of local authority built houses who are providing bathrooms.
Would the Minister make grants available to local authorities to provide bathrooms in housing schemes where there are none? Some of these schemes are 40 or 50 years old and are among the worst slums in the country.
The people who occupy these houses are tenants. Would the Minister make special moneys available to local authorities to provide bathrooms in such houses and also in rural cottages which were constructed a hundred years ago?
If it comes under the scheme it will be possible to do so. There is a grant of £600 which the local authority can make available. The local authority may also borrow money or the Department may lend money to them to which the tenants may have to contribute either by a lump sum or by an increase in rent.
Is the Minister aware that because of the constraints on local finance the local authorities cannot do this kind of work with the aid of a grant? They need a full sum.
Hear, hear.
The tenants cannot make a contribution because, by and large, they are either pensioners or unemployed people with very low means.
I accept the Deputy's point. No matter what case is brought up, there will be always some degree of hardship. Given the constraints on finance, I have to make finance available where I can. I have made £600 available and the local authority may proceed with work and recoup through a rent which is not, I believe, putting undue stress on tenants.
Ceist 16.