I wish to raise the issue of housing owned by local authorities. Meath County Council owns approximately 3,500 houses while Westmeath County Council owns approximately 2,500. Every week we contact local authorities about doors, windows, heating, plumbing and electrical issues, and the response is that there is no maintenance grant for these works. The Government needs to put in place a maintenance grant specifically for repair and maintenance of local authority housing. I ask the Minister to consider that. This issue affects local authorities throughout the country.

Local authorities should make funding available for the upgrading of their housing stock. That is part of the management of that housing stock. I am not quite sure what the Deputy is referring to and whether he wants grant aid available for the tenants or for the local authorities. If there is a proposal for increased support for the local authority concerned, its senior management should make that case to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.