Vol. 510 No. 6
37 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to provide a scheme of grants for the refurbishment or demolition and rebuilding of derelict dwellings in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22202/99]
I do not have any plans to introduce a generally available grant scheme for the refurbishment of derelict dwellings in rural areas. However, there are a number of options available which can assist in improving derelict dwellings. The Finance Act, 1998, introduced residential tax incentives for the refurbishment and construction of rented dwellings in the rural renewal tax designated areas of Longford, Leitrim and parts of Cavan, Roscommon and Sligo. The Finance Act, 1999, extended these tax incentives to owner-occupied housing. The new incentives allow 100 per cent of expenditure on the refurbishment of owner occupied housing to be offset against the owner occupier's total income over ten years. Similar relief on construction expenditure is available for owner occupiers at the rate of 5 per cent per annum for ten years. In addition, local authorities have wide powers to acquire houses generally as part of their local authority housing programmes. Authorities have been encouraged to fully exploit the range of measures available to them to meet social housing needs. Where appropriate, this could, of course, include the acquisition and refurbishment of derelict houses, either compulsorily or by agreement.
Go raibh maith agat. I am disappointed by the Minister's indication that he does not have any plans for a scheme of grants. The Department's fixation, albeit limited, with urban housing is very disappointing. People live and want to live in rural Ireland.
Ceist, le do thoil.
This is a very reasonable proposal. I put it to the Minister that this proposal, if adopted, would be met with universal approval. The Minister will appreciate that our countryside is dotted with dilapidated structures, many of which are unsightly and dangerous. Does he recognise that they are invariably at prime locations as generations past knew the ideal set ting in terms of the use of light and closeness to adequate and safe water supplies?
Deputy Ó Caoláin, your minute has concluded.
The minute is not up.
Your minute has concluded, Deputy Ó Caoláin.
The scheme I propose to the Minister is worthy of his consideration and I ask that he reconsider.
If the Deputy is able to identify certain derelict houses which he believes would be suitable for renovation for occupation, he should consult his local authority which has the right to acquire these properties and to refurbish them.
I am talking about a scheme throughout the State which would have universal approval. It is a bold step which—
I call Deputy Dukes to ask a question.
Is the Minister not aware that the scheme which is currently in place is not being implemented by a number of local authorities on the pretext apparently that if they refurbish an old house they believe that if there are problems later, they might be liable for damages, insurance claims or for non-satisfactory performance claims by the tenants? Will the Minister encourage the local authorities to take a more constructive approach than that and simply ensure refurbishment is carried out properly?
I do not accept that because the "in lieu" scheme is specifically directed at encouraging local authorities to carry out major reconstruction work on older houses, which would be similar to the type of situation with which the Deputy is dealing.
They will not do it on stone houses.
Where the local authority becomes the owner, it can have it assessed by a structural engineer to establish how sound the structure is and whether it is worth investing money in reconstructing it into a dwelling house or whether it would be cheaper to build a new house on the site.
Some of them refuse to do it.
I am not conscious of that but if the Deputy wishes to give me a case, I would be happy to look at it.
With pleasure.
Mr. Gilmore: Why does the Minister, who provides various incentives for the renewal of dwellings in urban areas, insist that the only way this can be done in rural areas is through acquisition by the local authority? Has he studied the proposal made by Mr. Jim Connolly of Rural Resettlement Ireland which includes a proposal along these lines which would have the beneficial effect of providing much needed housing, restoring buildings and the general architectural well-being of the countryside?
There is a range of schemes which I operate and which are directed at carrying out refurbishment work on houses. All have been improved substantially since I came into office and funding for them has also been substantially increased. These include the disabled person's grant, the essential repairs grant, the scheme of improvement works in lieu, which I mentioned, the task force on special housing for the elderly and extensions to local authority houses.
The rural resettlement scheme was mentioned. It submitted a proposal in 1998 for a scheme of grant aid to farmers to bring derelict houses on their land back into use and for renting to resettled applicants. A working group representative of the Department, the Rural Resettlement Ireland and the local authorities examined the proposal but a number of issues regarding the security of tenure, leasing arrangements, etc., required further examination. In August of this year it submitted a further proposal for a scheme of grant aid to farmers to build houses on their land for long-term rent to resettled applicants. This proposal was discussed by the working group on 1 November and it was agreed that Rural Resettlement Ireland would review its proposal to provide more information and that a further meeting of the working group would be held when the revised proposal was submitted.
A pilot scheme for rural resettlement is being managed by area development management, ADM, as part of the Operational Programme for Local, Urban and Rural Development. Some £300,000 has been provided for the scheme, the purpose of which is to generate a greater understanding of the issues involved in rural resettlement, in particular, employment, training and social integration, leading to the development of a strategic approach to the rural resettlement issue in Ireland.
An advisory committee was set up to steer the pilot project, comprising appropriate Departments, partnership groups, community groups, local authorities and Rural Resettlement Ireland. Some local authorities are looking at the availability of—
The Minister's minute has concluded.
The runaway train has to be stopped.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
