P. J. Sheehan
Question:115 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will extend the present reconstruction grants scheme in operation on Gaelic speaking island to non-Gaelic speaking islands. [24222/00]
Written Answers. - Offshore Islands.
My Department currently administers, under the Gaeltacht housing Acts, a scheme of grants for house improvements in Gaeltacht areas. The Minister for the Environment and Local Government is the Minister with primary responsibility in this matter on non-Gaeltacht islands.
The Deputy will recall that, with effect from 1 January 1999, the new house grant available to residents of non-Gaeltacht islands was increased significantly from £4,800 to £9,600. While this increase has helped considerably in offsetting the additional costs incurred by non-Gaeltacht island dwellers when constructing houses, island representatives have highlighted to me the need for the introduction of house improvement grants for the non-Gaeltacht islands and I have brought their concerns to the attention of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.