Vol. 510 No. 3
312 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the percentage of homes which do not have central heating appliances; the level of expenditure for this provision as operated by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22620/99]
I assume the Deputy is referring to local authority housing.
The management, maintenance and improvement of their existing dwellings, including the installation of central heating, is the general responsibility of local authorities to be defrayed from their own resources and information is not available in my Department on the number of local authority houses which do not have a central heating installation. However, where capital funding is being provided under the remedial works scheme to assist authorities to carry out major structural works to designated estates, the installation of central heating in these houses may form part of the works undertaken. In addition some authorities have been granted approval, on foot of specific proposals, to the use of internal capital receipts to provide central heating in particular cases.
Local authorities were advised in February 1994 that full central heating should be provided in all new local authority housing as part of the overall cost of the schemes. The choice of heating system and fuel should be determined by the local authority primarily by reference to expected capital and running costs, including possible servicing and maintenance costs, and the preference of the likely occupants.
