asked the Minister for the Environment if he will restore, as an exceptional measure, house improvement grants to the tenants of Carronreddy Estate, Tipperary town who wish to install solid fuel heating systems.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tipperary Home Improvement Grants.
30.
The answer is no.
Arising out of the Minister's very abrupt reply——
I did not mean it to be that way.
The purpose of putting down this question was to ask the Minister if he would, as an exception, grant house improvement grants to the tenants of this particular estate. It is a 90-house estate in Tipperary town. They have no fireplaces as the estate is centrally heated. I am aware that in the vast majority of those houses they have no central heating and in some cases no light. This has been caused by the prohibitive ESB cost. Would the Minister reconsider his views on this and, as an exception, give house improvement grants to those people?
No applications for grants were received by 1 February 1980, the final date for receipt of applications for house improvements grants including solid fuel conversions in respect of the Carronreddy Estate in Tipperary town. Under the Housing Regulations 1980 a local authority cannot be paid a grant for the installation of solid fuel heating. However, local authority tenants, who were prepared to meet the net cost of improvement works could, with the consent of the local authority, apply for and be paid grants. In certain circumstances, the local authority could get a grant for certain improvement works, carried out on housing estates, such as the provision of a hot and cold water supply, roof repairs, bathrooms and additional accommodation. In all cases, applications had to be received by 1 February 1980. We received no applications from those people before the closing date. If we received the applications they would have needed the consent of the local authority.
Is the Minister aware that while tenants did not apply individually for inclusion under this scheme the Tipperary Urban District Council together with the county council are actively pursuing it with his Department? Will the Minister tolerate the position where, in this 90-house scheme in County Tipperary, there are houses without any heating whatsoever?
All I can say is that if they were so interested in that they were badly advised because in the first instance, they should have made application to my Department by 1 February last. If they had I assure the Deputy I would have had them sympathetically considered. I regret, in the circumstances, I cannot be more helpful.
Is the Minister aware that Tipperary Urban District Council are pursuing this matter on behalf of the tenants? Will he look sympathetically on the application of the urban council to have those solid fuel applications grant-aided?
I have no correspondence to say that they have been in touch with my Department. If they are I will look at them.
Will the Minister look sympathetically at the matter?
As the Deputy realises, I cannot give him any undertaking, but I will have a look at it.