Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:
105
Deputy Peadar Tóibín
asked the
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
the assistance available to householders who find asbestos in their homes; if his Department can offer any help to householders who cannot afford to take the asbestos from their homes; if the only assistance available is made through the local authority housing aid grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27601/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): My Department does not have any grant available specific to the removal of asbestos from homes. However, the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability provide a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability. This scheme covers works reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of applicants, and can in those circumstances include the removal of asbestos.
The schemes are administered by local authorities and it is a matter for each local authority to determine how the funding is apportioned between the various grant measures and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within the capital allocations provided by my Department. It is recommended that expert advice should be sought in dealing with asbestos materials and if removal is necessary it should only be done by a competent contractor with the required training.
