Vol. 473 No. 4
288 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment the feasibility of introducing a rural dwelling renovation grant to renovate an old dwelling or build onto an existing dwelling for use as a primary residence in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1701/97]
While it is recognised that a house improvement grants scheme would help to promote the conservation and improvement of the housing stock, particular account must be taken of the cost of the previous scheme. 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 this stage, to introduce a grants scheme to assist in the renovation or extension of houses, whether confined to rural areas or otherwise.
