Seymour Crawford
Ceist:120 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will introduce grant aid for the repair and restoration of family homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21917/99]
Written Answers. - House Improvement Grants.
I have no proposals to introduce a house improvement grant scheme for the repair and restoration of family homes on a general basis. Any consideration of the introduction of a generally available scheme of house improvement grants must have regard to the capacity constraints in the construction sector with consequent likely impacts of such a scheme on costs and availability of contractors.
Nevertheless, there are a number of options currently available to assist vulnerable groups, such as lower income households and elderly per sons, to secure necessary improvement works to their houses and I continue to keep these under review. They include the disabled persons and essential repairs grant scheme, the terms of which I improved substantially last year, the scheme of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing and the task force on special housing aid for the elderly.