Ned O'Keeffe
Question:90 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment the grant aid, if any, that is available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who proposes to build a new house in a designated disadvantaged area. [18870/95]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The only grant for a new house available from my Department is the £3,000 grant to persons purchasing or building a new house for the first time. A copy of the explanatory memorandum on the grants scheme and an application form have been sent to the person named.
Dermot Ahern
Question:91 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to reintroduce a new house grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18952/95]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the reintroduction of house improvement grants. The Government's priorities in the housing area, as set out in A Government of Renewal and in the policy document Social Housing — The Way Ahead, 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.