asked the Minister for Local Government if there is a minimum figure below which applications for reconstruction and repair grants will not be considered; when such figure was decided upon; and where reference to it can be found in existing legislation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reconstruction and Repair Grants.
27.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; the minimum figure was determined some years ago but is not fixed by legislation.
Would the Minister say what is the minimum figure?
£60.
Has the figure been notified to local authorities?
All I can tell the Deputy about it is that that figure was arrived at as the minimum figure some years ago.
Will the Minister say how many years ago?
I am not quite sure. I take it that when it says "years" it must be at least three, and possibly more.
Arising out of the legislation introduced by the Minister last year to encourage people to reconstruct and repair their premises, does the Minister not think that it would be advisable to reduce that minimum in order to encourage people who cannot afford to spend £20 or over to carry out some repair work?
The basis for this figure, in the first instance, so far as I can find out, was that works costing less than £60 could not be regarded as repair or reconstruction work but would be more in the way of decoration or maintenance work. The figure of £60 was regarded as being so low that anything done at a less cost than that would be maintenance rather than reconstruction.
Is the Minister aware that applicants are being encouraged to bring the cost of repair or reconstruction up to a minimum of £60 although, in fact, the work could be carried out more economically? Would the Minister not consider reducing the figure for the reason I have stated, to encourage people in poor circumstances to repair their houses?
There is another point, that, under the conditions governing reconstruction or repair grants, regard must be had to the time when a previous grant was received. If we were to allow small, almost maintenance, jobs to be regarded for grant purposes the other features of the legislation would come into play and possibly prevent people from getting a grant for reconstruction and real repair work a few years later.
There could be a roofing job which would be less than £60.
I certainly have not heard of re-roofing being done for £60, certainly not in the Deputy's county. I would be most interested to hear of any such case.