Michael Ring
Question:156 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will introduce a housing repair grant for able-bodied people under the age of 65, in the middle or low income brackets. [15398/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Aid.
The scheme of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing enables local authorities to carry out necessary improvement works to a private house occupied or intended to be occupied by low income households approved for local authority housing as an alternative to the provision of local authority housing. The authority can arrange to have all necessary works of improvement carried out to the house. A small weekly or monthly charge is payable by the occupants, based on the cost of the works and the income of the occupants, for a maximum of 15 years. House improvement loans, of up to £6,000 unsecured and £15,000 secured are also available from local authorities for low income households.
The disabled persons and essential repairs grants and assistance available under the task force on special housing aid for the elderly target available resources at those considered most in need. I have no proposals at this stage to re-introduce a generally available house improvement grant scheme. This would either have the effect of diluting available resources with less funding being available, for example, for elderly people in very poor housing conditions or, in the context of current capacity constraints in the construction sector, to adversely impact on the cost and availability of contractors.