Vol. 508 No. 3
302 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will be re-introducing the pre-1940 house repair grants; his views on whether this would alleviate the crippling mortgages of young couples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19022/99]
I have no proposals to reintroduce a house improvement grant scheme. Any consideration of a re-introduction of house improvement grants must have regard to the capacity constraints emerging in the construction sector with consequent impacts on costs and availability of contractors. However, there are a number of options currently available to assist especially vulnerable groups such as lower income households and elderly persons to secure necessary improvement works to their houses. These include the local authority house improvement loan scheme, the disabled persons and essential repairs grant scheme the terms of which were substantially improved last year, improvement works in lieu of local authority housing and the task force on special housing aid for the elderly.
303 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will respond to the application by Carlow County Council for sanction for recoupment to enable the authority make a decision on the grant application by a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [19023/99]
My Department's role regarding the essential repairs grant scheme, which is administered by the local authorities, relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of grants.
In this particular case, a grant of £2,600 was paid in December 1997 and a letter regarding the payment of a second grant was recently received from Carlow County Council. Under the regulations which govern the scheme, payment of a second grant cannot be made and Carlow County Council have been informed accordingly.
