Brendan Smith
Ceist:103 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to reintroduce the house improvement grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9384/96]
Written Answers. - House Improvement Grants Scheme.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:122 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the importance and success of previous home improvement grants schemes; his views on such grant schemes; the plans, if any, he has to introduce a new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9284/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 122 together.
While I recognise that a house improvement grants scheme would help to promote the conservation and improvement of the housing stock, I am particularly conscious of the cost of the previous scheme. The Government's priorities in the housing area, as set out in A Government of Renewal, are to expand the local authority and other social housing programmes and to upgrade deficient local authority dwellings. As the available resources will, accordingly, be concentrated on these programmes, I have no proposal, at this stage, to reintroduce a house improvement grants scheme.