Vol. 482 No. 8
195 Mr. Daly asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will extend the essential repairs grant to include small dwellings in urban districts in view of the large numbers of dwellings in urban areas in need of essential repairs. [19574/97]
In accordance with the Housing (Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grants) Regulations, 1993, an essential repairs grant may be paid in respect of a house in any area subject to the following conditions: the occupier is approved for local authority housing; the house cannot be made fit for human habitation in all respects at a reasonable cost but the repairs proposed will prolong the useful life of the house; and there would be no continuing demand for local authority housing at the location of the house in respect of which the grant is sought.
Accordingly, I would expect that only a small number of cases in built-up areas could comply with the requirements of the regulations. In circumstances where an essential repairs grant cannot be paid for a house because there is a continuing demand for local authority housing, it would be open to an authority to consider the use of the scheme of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing, if the requirements of that scheme are fulfilled.
