Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The Minister will be aware that the local government fund is down 5% on what it was last year. Also, there has been a 6% reduction in the Estimates for local government despite the fact that a 5% decrease was provided for in the Estimates volume pre-budget. I am not sure if the amount has been subtracted from or added to since then. We will not know the position until the Finance Bill is published.

Will the Minister clarify if he proposes to prioritise additional resources for the home improvement scheme for the elderly and disabled and for the adaptation grants scheme, which is under pressure in each local authority area? Every local authority has received a flood of applications in this regard. We should either allow people in the local authority system to issue letters of approval in order that works can be undertaken or we should scrap the scheme. While I acknowledge the scheme is now much more attractive, following changes introduced last year, funding has not been increased and this has resulted in a huge backlog of applications. Whereas previously people could get only a €5,000 to €6,000 grant, they can now get up to €20,000.

Does the Minister plan to encourage the rationalisation of quangos across the board in other Departments or at local level in an effort to make savings?

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