Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of successful applications made under the improvement works in lieu scheme in each of the past three years by local authority; the amount expended on the scheme on the same basis; if he plans to amend the terms of the scheme to broaden its appeal as a solution to issues of substandard housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57535/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides capital funding to Local Authorities for both the Disabled Person Grants (DPGs) and Improvement Works in Lieu of local authority housing (IWIL’s). The DPG scheme is available to local authorities which allows them to undertake housing adaptations and extensions to their housing stock in order to meet the needs of tenants who are elderly or disabled or to address overcrowding.

The IWIL scheme allows local authorities to fund the repair, improvement or extension of privately owned houses that are occupied or will be occupied by approved housing applicants as an alternative to the provision of local authority housing. The scheme may also be used to improve private houses intended for occupation by a person surrendering a local authority house.

There are specific terms and conditions which govern the administration of the schemes and local authorities are responsible for such administration, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications with both programmes funded from the same funding stream.

My Department's approach each year is to issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan and implement these grants programme. My Department have also further reviewed allocations and funding drawdown this year and have advised those local authorities with higher grant activity additional funding can be made available which they can apply for.

The table below outlines the amount of funding drawn down in years 2018, 2019 and 2020 under the IWILs programme. Details of the 2021 scheme will be available early in 2022.