Vol. 469 No. 7
107 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, being taken to update the essential repair grant in terms of the criteria needed to qualify and the grant amount needed due to the very criteria laid down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18195/96]
In accordance with the Housing (Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grants) Regulations, 1993, essential repairs grants are payable by local authorities for houses which cannot be made fit for human habitation in all respects at a reasonable cost in circumstances where, with the carrying out of the essential repairs, the house can continue to meet short-term accommodation needs. Accordingly, the regulations restrict the payment of essential repairs grants to houses where there would be no continuing need for housing provided by the local authority in the vicinity of the house to be improved. Under the scheme, authorities may pay grants up to the full approved cost of the repairs, subject to a maximum, which is adjusted in line with the House Building Cost Index; the maximum grant currently stands at £5,173. Authorities may recoup half of their expenditure on such grants from my Department, up to a limit of £900 in any one case. I have no proposals, at this stage, to amend the terms of the scheme.
