Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

In accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act 1966, the provision and management of social housing, including the carrying out of routine and planned maintenance programmes to properties and estates, is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. Housing and estate maintenance programmes are funded directly by local authorities from their own resources, including from rental income and receipts from the disposal of properties and sales of houses to tenants.

It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The adoption of an authority's annual budget is a reserved function.

In the case of Leitrim County Council, I understand that the council makes an annual contribution, from the provision set aside for estate management, to residents networks for enhancement works on housing estates in the county. The various residents associations work in partnership with a company funded through the community employment, CE, scheme to maintain and improve the communal areas on local authority estates. I understand that there are currently some ten CE schemes in County Leitrim which are assisted through the Department of Social Protection and employing 172 participants and ten supervisors. I have no function in relation to the funding or operation of CE schemes.

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