82 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to reintroduce house improvement grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7240/97]

94 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to introduce a house improvement grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter in relation to the large number of owner-occupied houses in very bad condition and occupied and owned by persons who cannot afford to repair them. [7083/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 94 together.

While it is recognised that a general house improvement grant scheme would help to promote the conservation and improvement of the housing stock, particular account must be taken of the cost of the previous scheme. The Government's priorities in the housing area, as set out in A Government of Renewal are to expand the local authority and other social housing programmes and to upgrade deficient local authority dwellings. As the available resources will, accordingly, be concentrated on these programmes, there are no proposals at this stage to introduce a generally applicable house improvement grant scheme.

There are, however, a number of targeted schemes available to assist necessary house improvment works in appropriate circumstances, e.g., disabled persons's grants, essential repairs grants, the task force on special housing aid for the elderly and the scheme of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing.