341 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to review the policy on installing central heating in local authority rented houses. [23111/01]

In February 1994 local authorities were advised by my Department that full central heating should be provided in new local authority housing as part of the overall cost of the scheme. The management, maintenance and improvement of older local authority rented dwellings, including the installation of central heating, is the responsibility of local authorities to be defrayed from their own resources. Where capital funding is provided under the remedial works scheme to assist authorities to carry out major structural works to designated estates, the installation of central heating in houses may form part of the works undertaken. Local authorities may also seek approval of the use of internal capital receipts, surplus to the requirements of the local authority housing programme and remedial works scheme, for improvement works such as the provision of central heating to their dwellings. My Department is keeping the issue of central heating in local authority dwellings under review.