376 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the grants or allowances which are available to provide financial assistance to those who want to renovate or extend their homes to accommodate their elderly relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7589/02]

The scheme of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing, inter alia, enables local authorities to improve or extend a private house owned by a relative of an elderly applicant for local authority housing, if it could, on completion of the works, meet the applicant's housing need. In addition, the disabled persons grant scheme allows local authorities to pay a grant for the provision of additional accommodation or necessary works of adaptation to a house to meet the needs of a disabled or incapacitated member of the household.

Copies of leaflets outlining the operation of these schemes are available in the Oireachtas Library. Further details of the operation of these schemes together with application forms are available from local authorities.