Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I looked at the subheads on foot of the question asked. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government includes an allocation of €38.6 million under subhead A.7 - private housing grants. They include the housing adaption grants for people with a disability. This scheme provides grants of up to €30,000 to assist people with a disability in having necessary adaptation and improvement works carried out. Money is provided for the housing aid for older persons scheme, under which grants of up to €8,000 are provided for older people living in poor housing accommodation to have refurbishment or improvement works carried out. The mobility aid grants scheme is also supported from the subhead. It is available to fast-track grants of up to €6,000 to provide for basic works to address mobility problems, including the provision of grips, rails and ramps. I hear what the Deputy is saying about how much of it is lotto money and voted expenditure. I will speak to line Departments to seek greater clarity in the published accounts at the end of the year.

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