Housing (Loans and Grants) Act, 1962

Grants by-Minister for essential repairs.

5.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, make, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, a grant to an occupier of a house situate in a county health district carrying out essential repairs to the house.

(2) A grant may be made under subsection (1) of this section if, but only if—

(a) the housing authority in whose functional area the house is situate furnishes to the Minister a certificate of the authority stating, and the Minister is satisfied, that the house cannot be made fit for human habitation, in all respects, at a reasonable cost and that the repairs in respect of which the grant is proposed to be made constitute at least the repairs that are necessary in order to prolong the life of the house, and

(b) the repairs in respect of which the grant is proposed to be made are carried out in a satisfactory and efficient manner.

(3) The repairs to a house in respect of which a grant falls to be paid under subsection (1) of this section may, with the consent of the occupier of the house, be carried out by the housing authority in whose functional area the house is situate and, if the repairs are carried out by the housing authority, the Minister may pay the grant to the housing authority.

(4) A grant under this section shall not exceed—

(a) two-thirds of the amount estimated by the Minister to be the cost of the repairs in respect of which the grant is made, or

(b) eighty pounds,

whichever is the less,

(5) Where the Minister makes a grant under this section in respect of a house, the housing authority in whose functional area the house is situate may pay to the occupier of the house the difference, or such part of it as it thinks fit, between the amount of the grant and the amount estimated by the Minister to be the cost of the essential repairs to the house, contribute building materials or labour for the carrying out of the repairs to a value not greater than the amount of the difference aforesaid or make any payment in kind to the occupier to a value not greater than the amount of the difference aforesaid.

(6) Where the Minister makes a grant under this section in respect of a house, the valuation of the tenement consisting of or including the house shall not, on any valuation or revision of the valuation thereof coming into force within seven years after the completion of the repairs be increased on account of any increase in the value of such tenement arising from the repairs.

(7) A grant shall not be made under this section in respect of a house in respect of which a grant has previously been made under this section.

(8) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of this section.