andMr. P. Belton asked the Minister for Local Government if he will arrange to have the cost of central heating in the Ballymun flats, Dublin, borne by the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Heating of Dublin Flats.
7.
There is no statutory authority for payment of assistance of this kind from State funds.
The cost of domestic heating is an ordinary household expense and, as such, should normally be borne by the householder. The public assistance authority may, however, help towards meeting this cost in cases of genuine hardship. Where such circumstances arise in the case of tenants of the Ballymun scheme, I understand that the Dublin Health Authority are prepared to assist the tenants concerned and, in fact, have done so in a number of cases.
Is the Minister aware that in certain cases in Ballymun up to three times the amount of rent can be charged for central heating? Is he further aware that great hardship is being caused by the central heating levy on the flat dwellers in Ballymun and that the central heating is not necessarily a luxury in the Ballymun flats but a necessity to make these flats habitable?
I would not be surprised if the cost of heating would be greater than the minimum rents of the B scale differential rents scheme. In these cases the public assistance authority may assist in the provision of heat as they are doing in cases of heat provided by different means.
Is the Minister aware that the total cost to his Department of taking over the central heating at Ballymun would be £2,000 a week? This central heating, apart from being costly and not being a luxury, can also, according to reports which have come from Zurich, be a contributory factor in certain upper respiratory tract diseases, thereby resulting in a further increase in the cost of living of these people. Is the Minister aware that the cost of taking over the central heating would be £2,000 a week? Would the Minister be prepared to do this?
I do not propose to take over the functions of the Dublin Corporation.
(Interruptions.)