asked the Minister for the Environment the provisions made in each budget for house improvement grants since its inception; the total number of applicants for the scheme; and the total number of approvals prior to 27 March last.
Written Answers. - Housing Grant Applications.
It is presumed that the Deputy is referring to the 1985 scheme of house improvement grants.
The budget provision for improvement grants is a global one which covers the 1981 and 1985 schemes, as well as recoupment to local authorities in respect of grant payments under the disabled persons and essential repairs grants schemes; On this basis the budget provisions were: 1986, £24 million; 1987, £100 million.
Payments in 1986 under the 1985 scheme amounted to £23.1 million. Overall payments in 1986 amounted to £27.5 million and the additional expenditure over the budget provision of £24 million was met from savings under other subheads in my Department's Vote. A total of 137,909 applications had been received by 27 March, 1987 and 115,000 approvals had issued by that date.