I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 203, 230, 257, 289 and 347 together.
It is estimated that in the region of 45,000 existing local authority rented dwellings lack a central heating system. Since 1994, my Department has required that central heating be provided during construction in new local authority dwellings and included in the overall cost of the schemes.
The management, maintenance and improvement of their rented dwellings, including the installation of central heating, is in principle the responsibility of local authorities to be financed from their own resources. However, where capital funding is provided under remedial or regeneration schemes operated by my Department for the upgrading of local authority dwellings, the provision of central heating may form part of the works undertaken. Local authorities may also seek on a case by case basis approval to use internal capital receipts, which are in excess of the requirements of their programmes for the provision of local authority houses and the remedial works scheme, for improvement works such as the provision of central heating to their dwellings.
Private householders are responsible for any works they may wish to undertake to their dwellings. There are a number of options currently available to assist lower income householders, and elderly persons in particular, to secure necessary improvement works to their houses. These include the local authority house improvement loan scheme, the disabled persons and essential repairs grant schemes, improvement works in lieu of local authority housing and the task force on special housing aid for the elderly.
Apart from the above, there is no specific mechanism available from my Department to fund the installation of central heating in local authority or private dwellings generally.