147 Mr. Bree asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department has organised courses on estate management; if so, the number of such courses which have taken place; the number of council officials and representatives of residents associations who have participated; if it is the policy of his Department to encourage representatives of residents associations to participate in such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9530/97]

The general responsibility of local authorities for the management of their housing estates includes responsibility for the implementation of improved estate management arrangements, including decisions on the type and level of tenant involvement and on training courses for tenants and local authority staff. To assist local authorities to improve estate management and to secure greater tenant involvement, the following initiatives have been taken by me and my Department, some of which involve courses for tenants and local authority staff.