Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 4

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

291 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if a circular was issued instructing local authorities to re-assess the income of householders who have benefited under the improvement works in lieu of rehousing scheme with a view to adjusting repayments upwards where financial circumstances permit; when such instructions were issued to local authorities; if such instructions apply to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30560/01]

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

It has been a provision of the improvement works in lieu of local authority housing scheme since its inception that persons availing of it are required to make weekly repayments related to their ability to pay which are calculated having regard to the cost of the work and in accordance with the local authority's differential rent scheme. These requirements have been re-stated in the most recent guidelines for the scheme which were issued by my Department in 1998.

The scheme provides that repayments should be reviewed in the same way as for differential rents, that is on the basis of up to date information on the financial and family circumstances of the beneficiary. It is understood that in this particular case the local authority, due to an over sight, omitted for some time to review the weekly repayments of the person concerned but have recently done this and will be communicating with the person concerned shortly. Any revision in the weekly repayment will, I understand, not be effective until January 2002.