The management, maintenance and improvement of their existing dwellings, including the installation of central heating, is the responsibility of local authorities to be defrayed from their own resources. There is no specific grant funding available from my Department for this purpose. However, where capital funding is provided under my Department's remedial works scheme to assist authorities to carry out major structural works to designated estates, the installation of central heating in houses may form part of the works undertaken. Works funded under this scheme at Aisling Park, Dundalk, and St. Finians Park, Drogheda, included the installation of central heating. A total of some £1.4 million has been allocated in respect of these projects to date.
Since 1994 local authorities have been advised that full central heating should be provided in all new local authority housing. The number of house completions by local authorities in County Louth in each of the past five years is set out in the following table:
Number of House Completions*