asked the Minister for the Environment if instructions are to be given to housing authorities not to undertake minor repairs or maintenance of local authority houses; and if he will make a statement on this matter setting out the exact position.

8.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give a list of minor repairs and maintenance works which will not be carried out in future by local housing authorities.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.

Discussions on the various housing matters dealt with in the national plan, including the proposed arrangements in relation to the carrying out of minor repairs and maintenance of a routine nature to local authority dwellings took place recently between officers of my Department and a group of local authority managers. Circular letters dealing with relevant aspects of the plan will be issued to local authorities shortly.

Is the Minister not prepared to give the House some of the information requested?

Details will issue shortly and I can make them available to the Deputy if he requires them.

Have any decisions been made yet?

I am sure that the Deputy is aware of what was suggested in the national plan, that minor repairs should be undertaken by tenants. There is nothing unusual in this since the standard tenancy agreement which governs all local authority housing provides that a tenant is responsible for all internal decoration, breakage of glass or damage to fixtures and fittings. He is also responsible for the proper maintenance of fences surrounding his garden or plot. It further obliges him to make good such damage without delay or, if the damage is made good by the local authority, to pay such cost. This part of the tenancy agreement has not always been applied in the past but all local authorities are now being asked to operate it.

Will the Minister make these details available to every Member of the House?

Of course.

Is the Minister aware that local authority tenants are concerned that they will have to pay for repairs which were hitherto undertaken by the local authority? This is a penny-pinching exercise and many people are very surprised that he, as a Labour Party Minister, would inflict this on one of the weaker sections of the community, people who are unable to provide homes for themselves and who depend on the State to do so.

I assure the House that in cases of hardship we will indicate to local authorities that they should continue to carry out these repairs.

(Dublin North West): Is the Minister aware that in cases where houses are robbed and damage is done, the corporation have refused to carry out necessary repairs? In many cases it involves windows and old people who are unable to pay.

As I said, where hardship is involved and where tenants are unable to pay for repairs we will be asking the local authorities to do so.

It is another means test.