asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the number of houses that were erected in the past without bathrooms, he will consider making interest free loans available for the building of bathrooms or shower units in such houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Improvement Loans.
19.
A person whose annual income is less than £10,000 may obtain a loan from a local authority for the provision of bathroom or shower facilities. The loan may not exceed £8,000 — or £2,000 if it is not secured — and may be repaid over 15 years. The interest rate is currently 9.25 per cent but I expect that this will shortly be reduced. In view of the availability of this facility and the current budgetary situation, I do not consider that an interest free loan scheme would be justified.
In the case of rented local authority dwellings, the authorities concerned may obtain unsubsidised loan finance to provide bathroom facilities.
Relating to the latter part of the Minister's reply in regard to rented accommodation, is he denying that 1,200 Dublin Corporation homes are without bathrooms? Does he consider in this Millennium year that that is satisfactory? Should these bathrooms not be provided, at least half this year and half next year, to eliminate this outrageous scandal?
The Minister is aware there are quite a number — I do not know the exact number — of homes that have no facilities such as the Deputy mentioned but he will agree that I have made a special effort in regard to the provision of remedial moneys to the corporation to deal with the matter, much more than was contemplated by any previous administration. My intention is to keep up that pressure until we rid ourselves of this matter entirely.
Is the Minister aware that there is in Dublin Corporation, the authority with whom I am most familiar, a list A and a list B of disabled tenants of the corporation who cannot get a bathroom or shower unit supplied? The fact that there are 1,200 such homes in Dublin in this Millennium year is a scandal. It would cost something like £5.5 million to provide all who need bathrooms with them and there is no reason why half could not be provided in this Millennium year and the remainding half next year. The situation is intolerable and would not be accepted anywhere else in western Europe.
The Deputy knows well that local authority dwellings can be dealt with under two schemes, the improvement work scheme whereby the local authority can get unsubsidised loan finance to carry out the improvement works——
Building bathrooms?
——and it can be dealt with under the remedial works scheme. I have provided £2.5 million, the biggest amount ever provided in this State for that type of work in this town in this year. The Deputy should be congratulating the Minister for the Environment on the exceptional work he has done in that regard in so far as that type of dwelling in the city is concerned.
It is not 1 April.
Is the Minister aware that fewer bathrooms were built this year by Dublin Corporation than in any other year in this decade? In the year of the Millennium 1,200 homes are without bathrooms——
The Deputy is now imparting information.
Is the Minister aware of that fact?
The Deputy should ask the people in Seán McDermott Street what they think of the Minister for the Environment in regard to that matter.
He should ask the people in Crumlin and Drimnagh what they think of him.
I will now deal with a Private Notice Question in the name of Deputy De Rossa.
On a point of order, I submitted a question in relation to the tenant purchase schemes and I was informed verbally today that it had been ruled out of order although I submitted it in time. I did not receive any written notice within the normal time. I do not like your ruling but I am not challenging it. However, I want to draw to your attention that I received no written indication that my question was out of order.
I will have the matter investigated but I am bound to say, on behalf of my staff, that your question was disallowed because it was a repeat. The Deputy should put down a substitute question.
I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the constant courtesy I receive from your staff.
I am glad to hear that.
I am sure that will continue to be the case, I am simply informing you that I did not receive written notification in this matter.
I will have that aspect of the matter very seriously considered and I will communicate with the Deputy.