asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of re-wiring grants from corporation tenants and tenant purchasers which is causing severe hardship; if, in a particular case (detailed supplied) in Dublin where electrical re-wiring is urgently needed, he will ensure that the local authority who are currently re-wiring all tenant houses in the area will re-wire this house in the interest of safety; if he is further aware that the withdrawal of re-wiring grants to tenants will mean the extra burdening of local authorities in this regard with resulting demands on public money and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Re-wiring Grants.
317.
In so far as dwellings let by the corporation to tenants may require re-wiring, it is a matter for Dublin Corporation to carry out such work as part of their normal maintenance programme.
In the case of tenant purchasers of corporation houses, a special arrangement was made whereby a grant for re-wiring on its own was made available to the tenant purchaser who met the balance of the cost from his own resources. This arrangement terminated with the discontinuation of the improvement grant schemes, but applications for these special grants received on or before 1 February 1980 are being processed in the normal way.
In the particular case quoted by the Deputy, I understand that an application for the re-wiring grant was not received up to the closing date of the improvement grant schemes.
While the improvements grant schemes have been discontinued, I have had extra funds made available to enable home owners to carry out necessary improvement works with the aid of substantial loans if they so desire.