Noel Dempsey
Question:4 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to reintroduce a scheme of home improvement grants as promised by the previous Minister of State at his Department. [2344/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Grants.
Michael McDowell
Question:16 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for the Environment if he will introduce a house improvement grant for the owners of privately owned houses to ensure that they reside in decent accommodation: and if he will make a statement on the matter.[2283/95]
Máirín Quill
Question:32 Ms Quill asked the Minister for the Environment if he will introduce a house improvement grant for the owners of privately owned houses to ensure that they reside in decent accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[2281/95]
Brendan Smith
Question:74 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for the Environment if he will introduce a house reconstruction grant scheme at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2446/95]
Seamus Kirk
Question:75 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to re-introduce the house improvements grant scheme. [1692/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 16, 32, 74 and 75 together.
The Government's priorities in the housing area, as set out in A Government of Renewal, are to expand the local authority and other social housing programmes and to upgrade deficient local authority dwellings. As the available resources will, accordingly, be concentrated on these programmes, there are no proposals at present to reintroduce a house improvement grants scheme.
Is the Minister aware that almost 2,500 local authority houses do not have bathroom or toilet facilities? Is she saying that because of that figure available resources will be concentrated on those houses rather than on a general grants scheme?
What did the Deputy's party do in this area during the past seven years?
We were paying for promises made by the Deputy's party.
Because the Deputy's party left that area in such a mess.
I am sure the Deputy is aware there is a commitment to upgrade local authority houses. We have an obligation to provide sanitary facilities for local authority tenants and there is a programme under which we will continue to meet that obligation. At present there are no plans to introduce a house improvement grants scheme.
Will the Minister of State reconsider that matter in view of the thousands of houses——
The Deputy's party abolished such a scheme in 1987.
Yes, we did.
There ought not be an exchange of views on this matter. It is a matter for the Minister of State who has replied and the Deputy in possession.
It cost £270 million to pay for the total excess of the previous scheme. I am aware of a person in Dublin who bought seven cottages in my constituency, had them refurbished for a net figure of approximately £5,000 and now rents them as holiday homes and is making a good profit. That is an abuse of the scheme and one of the reasons it was abolished.
Questions please, Deputy.
Regarding the grants scheme and improving the housing stock, private or public, which we would all welcome, is the Minister of State satisfied with the local authorities' response to the improved work scheme outlined in the social housing policy document considering that in 1993 11 local authorities did not have any houses completed——
The Deputy seems to be imparting a good deal of information rather than seeking it. This is Question Time.
Is the Minister of State satisfied with the take-up of the scheme as in 1993 11 local authorities did not have any houses completed, eight did not have any in progress and in 1994——
The Deputy seems to be giving a good deal of information. That is not appropriate.
I am not sure if the Minister of State is aware of those figures.
Let us proceed now by way of relevant direct questions.
In 1994 there were——
Deputy Dempsey seems to be ignoring the Chair.
I am not ignoring the Chair.
You may not proceed to give any further information, Deputy. It is not appropriate now.
How will the Minister of State answer my question if she does not know the figures?
I am sure the Minister of State knows the figures. Deputy Dempsey knows the procedure at this time and he may not seek to circumvent the ruling of the Chair on this matter.
Is the Minister of State aware of the number of houses completed under the local authority improved work scheme in 1994? Is she worried about the obvious trend in that area — I cannot mention the figures — namely, that the number of new houses has decreased substantially? A sum of £2 million was provided for the task force scheme for the elderly operated through the health board in this year's Estimate and £4 million was provided for it last year. Will the Minister give a guarantee that at least the figure of £4 million will be restored in respect of that scheme in the budget?
The Deputy should not make presumptions in respect of what I do and do not know. If he asked relevant supplementary questions in respect of the question before me, I would be happy to give him replies. There is no reference in the question before me to the task force for the elderly. I was asked to respond to a question on a house improvement grants scheme and I am more than happy to give the Deputy information on that subject.
I asked the Minister about grants for house improvements. Will she answer the questions I asked?
If the Deputy is dissatisfied with the Minister's reply, he had a remedy. It may not give rise to argument now.
I do not want to argue with the Minister of State but I would like her to answer the question.
I need clarification as to whether the Deputy means improvements in lieu of a housing scheme or a scheme for the provision of bathroom facilities. I cannot answer the question until I have that information.
I mentioned the improved works scheme, not the one in respect of providing bathroom facilities.