asked the Minister for Local Government if he will indicate the extent to which grants may be provided for tenants of vested cottages for repairs and maintenance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cottage Repair and Maintenance Grants.
14.
Grants may be made available under the Housing Acts to tenants of vested cottages for repair works which are urgently necessary to arrest or prevent deterioration of the house.
Grants are not available for maintenance work.
I take it that where a case arises in which repairs in the region of £10 to £30 are necessary, a grant can be made available by the Minister's Department for that work?
No. The same sort of limits apply in the case of such houses as vested cottages as would apply to the ordinary general public in respect of ordinary private houses, that where works proposed are likely to cost less or estimated to cost less than £60, no grant is paid.
Would the Minister agree that in the case of vested cottages, there should be special provision for a grant to be made available in respect of the lower figures I have mentioned? Such cases are likely to occur in the case of cottages which are vested and would the Minister not agree that some steps should be taken by him, particularly in County Dublin——
That is an argument.
——and I am sure in other counties as well?
I am afraid I cannot see the reasoning of that, that there should be a different yardstick with regard to these types of houses.
Question No. 15.
Some of the people can find the money more readily than the Deputy or I. However, if the Deputy has information, I should be glad to consider it.