Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jan 1995

Vol. 447 No. 11

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

138 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment the number of local authority houses without toilet and bathroom facilities in each county; the total number; and when it is proposed to provide these facilities. [1456/95]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Ms McManus)

Information, based on returns made by the local authorities, on the number of their houses without bathroom facilities at 31 December 1994, is set out in the following table. I understand that, in the case of about 700 of the dwellings involved, the tenants have indicated that they do not wish at this stage to have a bathroom/shower installed.

The management, maintenance and improvement of their rented dwellings, including the provision of bathroom facilities, are the responsibility of local authorities. To assist authorities in providing bathrooms/showers in their dwellings which lack them, funding is provided under the bathrooms sub-programme operated by my Department. In addition, bathrooms can be provided as part of refurbishment projects under my Department's remedial works scheme. The allocations already made under these schemes total over £128 million of which £10.5 million was provided solely for bathrooms. The allocations for the current year will be made to local authorities as soon as possible.

Local authorities have a legal obligation to provide bathroom facilities in their rented dwellings by 1 January 1998. I am satisfied that, with the financial assistance available from my Department, authorities should be capable of complying with this deadline.

Number of Local Authority Dwellings lacking bathroom facilities at 31 December 1994.

County Boroughs
Cork	282
Dublin	1,084
Limerick	74
Waterford	207
Total County Boroughs	1,647

County Councils
Carlow	1
Cavan	7
Clare	8
Cork	32
Donegal	2
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown	428
Fingal	1
Galway	13
Kerry	29
Kildare	3
Kilkenny	63
Laois	3
Leitrim	2
Limerick	2
Louth	29
Mayo	1
Meath	2
Monaghan	4
Offaly	10
Roscommon	1
Sligo	76
Tipperary (NR)	30
Tipperary (SR)	39
Waterford	1
Westmeath	1
Wexford	25
Wicklow	22
Total County Councils	835
Grand Total	2,482

Notes:

(i) County Council areas include Boroughs, Urban Districts and Town Commissioners.

(ii) Galway Corporation, Longford and South Dublin County Councils gave a "nil" return.