Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his proposals to encourage the use of and improve the criteria for the scheme of improvements in lieu of rehousing, as this scheme could help in the retention and improvement of existing housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17618/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Improvement Works in lieu of Local Authority Housing (IWILs) scheme provides funding to local authorities to improve or extend privately-owned accommodation, which is occupied or intended to be occupied by an applicant approved for social housing, as an alternative to the provision of social housing. The local authority undertakes the improvement work and then charges the housing applicant a weekly amount related to income by way of repayments for up to a maximum of 15 years. If the property is subsequently sold, the cost of the improvement works would be recouped by the local authority.

My Department requests submissions for proposals under the Scheme every year from local authorities and funding is provided to the authorities based on the scale of need identified. The administration of the scheme, including its promotion, the assessment of applications and the allocation of funds for the works, is a matter for each local authority based on their assessment of need and value for money considerations.

I am satisfied that the Scheme is a valuable asset for local authorities in responding to situations where privately-owned accommodation can be improved or extended to obviate the need for the home owner to avail of social housing and I have no plans to adjust its criteria at present.