Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grants allocated under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts in 2006 and to date in 2007, in each category such as new house, essential improvement and so on; his views plans to review these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26318/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts, assistance is available to qualified applicants in Gaeltacht areas towards the construction of new houses and for improving existing houses. In 2006 grants totalling €3,931,336 were sanctioned under the Acts and in 2007 to date a total of €6,114,271 has been sanctioned. Details in relation to the categories under which these grants were approved are set out in the following Table.

My Department introduced a special improvement grant this year to assist the 700 householders providing accommodation for Gaeltacht students under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge in fulfilling the conditions specified in new guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2006 regarding fire safety in such households.

I have no plans at present to initiate an overall review of the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts grant schemes.