To ask the Minister for Social Development to provide an update on the Home Improvement Grants scheme following the debate in the Assembly on the 15 September 2009.

The Housing Executive continues to process Disabled Facilities Grants. However, applications for Discretionary grants; such as Renovation Grants, Replacement Grants, Home Repairs Assistance, that are not yet approved are unlikely to be approved except in exceptional circumstances. The Housing Executive has also written to all those cases which were refused or cancelled explaining the position should additional funding become available.

I welcome the Executive’s decision that £20 million was made available for social housing in the June Monitoring Round. Bids were submitted to the September Monitoring Round but were not met and I will also be submitting bids in future monitoring rounds to protect the housing agenda.