Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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400. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to re-establish the Dublin City Council extension grant which was discontinued in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13523/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of social housing adaptations and extensions, to address serious overcrowding and to meet the needs of tenants with a disability. This funding continues to be available to all local authorities, including Dublin City Council, and was not discontinued in 2008. The funding also provides for improvement works to private houses in lieu of provision of local authority housing. The need for extensions can arise to address overcrowding, as well as for older people or people with a disability who may require the installation of a downstairs bedroom or bathroom. Local authorities also use their existing housing stock to meet such need (downsizing as well as upsizing) but, in some instances, the best option is to adapt/extend a family’s existing accommodation and this funding supports local authorities in responding to that need. The overall funding for this activity in 2015 was €10m nationally, which was an increase of €2m on the previous year. This year, I am providing €11m for such works.