Housing grants and eligibility
The questions concerned increasing housing and services grants and restrictions on eligibility. The Minister said grant levels were under review but would not rise at present, and said existing grants and other aid helped those most in need; he referred to earlier explanations of revised criteria.
andMr. Keaveney asked the Minister for Local Government when he proposes to increase all private housing and services grants to a realistic level.
11.
Comment on this
andMr. Keaveney asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statement outlining the reasons underlying the progressive restriction on eligibility for housing grants by his Department.
Comment on this
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
While the levels of grants for housing and for installation of piped water and sewerage services are kept under constant review, it is not intended at present to increase the levels of the grants. These grants together with other aids available from State and local funds, are achieving their purpose in assisting persons most in need to provide their own houses.
I have already indicated in numerous statements and replies to parliamentary questions, that the Government's decisions on revised criteria for new house and reconstruction grant eligibility were influenced by the need to curtail the growth in public expenditure by confining available resources to sectors where there is clear justification for such expenditure on grounds of genuine need and where it will be of most benefit nationally.