asked the Minister for the Environment if he favours a greatly extended scheme of repair and maintenance grants in respect of the older housing stock as a measure of national economy, as a contribution to the effective conservation of urban centres for social and amenity reasons and as a measure which would expand employment in the building trades.
Written Answers. - Older Housing Stock Improvements.
238.
While I would favour additional measures to provide for the repair and improvement of older houses, I am not in a position at present, having regard to the unavoidable constraints on public expenditure, to introduce an extended scheme of house improvement grants as envisaged by the Deputy. The grants provided under the current improvement grants scheme are, of course, available to persons carrying out eligible works to houses in urban areas.