Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of local authority units which do not have either hot water or central heating; and the funding which is being and which shall be made available to address this issue. [16510/05]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of local authority housing units that do not have central heating installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16385/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 150 together.

An indicative survey of local authorities carried out by my Department prior to the introduction last year of a scheme for the installation of central heating in existing local authority rented dwellings estimated the number of such dwellings lacking central heating facilities to be in the region of 45,000. The current figure is likely to be somewhat lower than this reflecting work carried out since the survey was undertaken. A revised national estimate is being prepared on the basis of returns, which have been sought from local authorities.

The Irish national survey of housing quality carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute for the period 2001-02 estimated that 3% of the local authority rented stock lacks hot running water.

My Department is encouraging and supporting local authorities to put in place programmes of works to improve the quality of existing local authority dwellings. In this context the central heating scheme provides for an Exchequer contribution of up to €5,600 or 80% of the cost, whichever is the lesser, for each approved dwelling. The remaining 20% is met by the local authority concerned. My Department's contribution under the scheme in 2004 amounted to €12 million in respect of 2,800 dwellings. A provision of €30 million has been made for the current year.