Dáil Éireann - Volume 475 - 27 February, 1997

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Mr. Ring Mr. Ring

110. Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment his policy in relation to local authorities installing heating into their houses which are rented out to tenants; whether there is a difference between Dublin Corporation and Mayo County Council in this regard in view of the fact that a person in Mayo applied under the disabled person's grant scheme for heating and was turned down and a person living in a Dublin Corporation house can get heating installed under the same grant scheme. [5541/97]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Ms McManus) Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Ms McManus)

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Ms McManus): I assume that the question relates to the provision of heating in a rented local authority house occupied by a person with a disability.

1263

Under the Housing (Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grants) Regulations, 1993, a local authority may pay a disabled person's grant in respect of works of adaptation that, in the opinion of the authority, are reasonably necessary for the purpose of rendering a house more suitable for the disabled person. Subject to the regulations, it is a matter in individual cases for local authorities to determine eligibility for a grant and the type of works for which a grant may be given. [1263] Local authorities were informed by my Department in May 1996 that, for the purposes of determining the level of a disabled person's grant, the cost of providing central heating may be included in the overall cost of necessary adaptation works. In circumstances, where a proposed central heating system extends beyond the accommodation for the disabled person, an apportionment of the cost is made.

Dáil Éireann 475 Written Answers. Local Authority Housing.

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