Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 3

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

68 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of applicants in each housing authority area for the works in lieu or housing scheme; and if he will provide the housing authorities with the resources to clear this backlog in 1998. [2372/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The administration of the improvement works in lieu scheme is devolved to local authorities, apart from requiring Departmental approval in individual cases where the cost of works exceeds £20,000 or £25,000 in the case of offshore islands. Consequently, my Department does not have information on the number of current applicants for the scheme in each housing authority area. However, certain details of activity under the scheme obtained from local authorities are published in my Department's housing statistics bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

In notifying local authorities of their housing construction programmes for 1998, I asked them to specifically review the scope for expanding the use of the improvement works in lieu scheme, as a flexible and cost effective complement to their local authority housing programmes. Local authorities will be notified shortly of the financial allocations for the different elements of their housing programmes, including the improvements works in lieu scheme. It will be open to local authorities, within the limits of the overall allocation, to seek approval from my Department to divert funds from one element of their programme to another, such as the improvement works in lieu scheme.