Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
374 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has schemes and so on for the provision of central heating systems in local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13199/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Since 1994, my Department has required that central heating be provided during construction in new local authority dwellings and included in the overall cost of the schemes.
The management, maintenance and improvement of their rented dwellings including the installation of central heating, is in principle the responsibility of local authorities to be financed from their own resources. Where capital funding is provided under remedial or regeneration schemes operated by my Department for upgrading of local authority dwellings, the provision of central heating may form part of the work undertaken.
Local authorities may also seek my Department's approval to use their internal capital receipts which are surplus to the requirements of the local authority housing construction and remedial works programmes or to use some of the ring-fenced funds under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 — 2002 for the provision of central heating in their rented housing stock.
375 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has schemes and so on for the removal of asbestos from sheds in local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13200/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Local housing authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of their rented housing stock. It would be a matter for individual authorities to decide whether it is necessary to remove any asbestos containing materials present in sheds and, if so, to undertake the necessary work. There are no schemes or grant assistance available from my Department for this work.
