Bernard Allen
Question:28 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the steps he proposes to take to ensure that all dwellings in the State have running water and an indoor bathroom before the end of this century.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Dwelling Standards.
The Plan for Social Housing indicated that there were about 6,500 rented local authority dwellings still lacking bathroom facilities (some 2,500 of which also lacked an indoor toilet) and announced the introduction of a new sub-programme backed by a special provision of £2 million in 1991 to assist local authorities progressively to eliminate this deficiency in their housing stock.
In regard to housing generally, the 1990 survey of the housing stock, which will be published shortly, indicates a very significant improvement in the position regarding sanitary facilities over the past ten years. In addition, the results of the 1991 census of population will provide the usual ten yearly definitive figures.
The provision of bathroom facilities in private houses occupied by disabled or elderly persons can be assisted under the disabled persons grants scheme and the task force for the elderly. Under the new scheme of improvements in lieu of local authority housing which was introduced in the Plan for Social Housing, local authorities may also provide these facilities in the context of making a house fit for occupation by a household that is qualified for local authority housing. Furthermore, the revised loan and income limits for local authority house improvement loans, announced in the plan, should help occupiers of private housing to provide these facilities.
I intend to keep under review the need for any additional measures to deal with the residual deficiency in these facilities.