Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 4

Written Answers. - Housing Grants.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

148 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if grant schemes were made available to householders in areas where the coal ban was introduced to convert existing heating systems to gas/oil; the plans, if any, he has to introduce such a scheme in Leixlip-Celbridge in County Kildare following his recent announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15847/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace):

My Department has not operated a grant scheme for the conversion of existing heating systems to gas or oil in any of the restricted areas since 1990 where regulations have banned the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuels.

Prior to 1990, limited grants, funded by my Department, were administered by Dublin Corporation in respect of the upgrading or conversion of certain heating systems reliant on bituminous coal in a small number of designated special control areas in Ballyfermot, Dublin.

Access to the grant scheme ceased in 1990 when regulations prohibiting the marketing, supply and distribution of bituminous fuels were made for the whole of Dublin. In 1991 the then Minister for Industry and Commerce made regulations, in the interests of greater safety, in relation to the quality of certain solid fuels. These regulations ensure that all smokeless fuels can readily be used in existing open fireplaces.

The extensions of the ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuels to Cork in 1995 and to Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick and Wexford in 1998 were not accompanied by any grant scheme. I have no plans to introduce any such scheme in the new restricted areas of Waterford, Galway, Naas, Leixlip and Celbridge when the bans come into operation in October 2000.

However, in order to assist lower income households with any increased cost of smokeless solid fuel, since 1990 the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs pays a supplementary fuel allowance of £3 per week during the winter heating season to people in receipt of the national fuel allowance payment and to other qualifying social welfare recipients in the restricted areas. This payment will also be provided in the five new restricted areas.