Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 4

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Mary Wallace

Question:

113 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment the reason he allowed eight houses in one housing estate built in 1994 to only have open fire, back-to-back flue systems for heating and that a separate eight houses built in the same estate by funding from his Department in 1995 were allowed to install central heating systems; his views on whether it is unfair that the residents who were allocated the first eight houses in the estate will be the only people in this development who do not have central heating provided by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11326/97]

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

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to phase 1 of Meath County Council's housing scheme at Kilbreena, Dunboyne which commenced in 1993. The heating system in this phase was provided in accordance with the guidelines for the provision of local authority housing which operated at that time.

Housing authorities were advised by my Department in February 1994 that full central heating should be provided in new local authority housing. Houses in subsequent phases of the scheme have been provided with heating in accordance with this advice.