Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way he is addressing the housing needs of the disabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18259/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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In line with the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, the development of a national housing strategy for people with a disability, which will support the provision of tailored housing and housing supports at local level, is underway and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009.

Progress has also been made on the development of a suite of protocols to provide a strategic framework for inter-agency co-operation between housing authorities and the Health Service Executive. A protocol governing the assessment of the individual accommodation needs of certain people with a disability has been in operation since July 2007. Further protocols governing the funding arrangements between housing authorities and the HSE on ongoing support costs for social housing tenants and for the strategic assessment of the housing needs of people with a disability are currently being progressed.

Part M of the building regulations was amended in 2002 to include requirements on access to all dwellings by people with disabilities. A comprehensive review of Part M has since been carried out, in consultation with stakeholders, with a view to improving and broadening the scope of the relevant guidance. The outcome of this review will be released for public consultation shortly.

A wide range of supports are provided to meet the specific accommodation needs of people with a disability. These include the housing adaptation grant for persons with a disability, the adaptation grant for new houses and the mobility aids grant schemes, adaptation works to local authority houses and up to 100% grants to support the provision of specific accommodation by voluntary housing bodies. Notwithstanding the more constrained fiscal environment, meeting the housing needs of the most vulnerable sections of society, including persons with a disability, will continue to be prioritised by Government.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Colleagues must be brief.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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On the length of the delay in local authorities processing the claims, is there anything at which the Department is looking to streamline and improve the turnaround time for applicants? Are all Departments and local authorities fully wheelchair accessible and do they have wheelchair accessible toilet facilities as well?

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Has the housing adaptation funding of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government been issued to local authorities this week, as this is the fifth month of the year? Can the Minister explain the reason the issuing of this funding to local authorities has delayed into the fifth month of the year?

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I would hope that the local authorities will give priority to this area. We set down some of the protocols and the others are for consultation shortly. We have the back-up in the areas of grants and Part M. I would hope that the local authorities, and local authority members, will ensure that takes place.

I understand the housing grants have been notified to local authorities this week. They are with the local authorities today, or if not, tomorrow. They have an allocation of almost €80 million for those grants for 2009.

The simple reason local authorities have not been notified of the grants until now is that we have only recently had the Revised Estimates. Having said that, I am pleased to say that we have almost €80 million available for housing grants for 2009.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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The Minister of State made a significant comment here that needs to be cleared up in the House. He stated that the delay in the budget has to do with the Revised Estimates. It is the fifth month of the year. Is the Minister of State stating that the reason for this delay is because of the Revised Estimates? If that is the case, it would mean that the Department was looking at a revised budget estimate in January and February of this year. This is of critical importance to the House because it means that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have given us false information in reply to other questions. Is the Minister of State stating that the reason for the delay in this budget being issued is because of the Revised Estimates? If that is the case, how early in the year was the Department discussing that there would be Revised Estimates? The reply given by the Minister of State is a nonsense.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Lynch will be aware that local authorities put into their budgets a back-up, in some circumstances 30% towards the cost in the case of the older grant and 20% in this one.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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That is not the question.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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In the housing meetings which take place between officials and the Department, they discuss that and some local authorities put in more than others. Therefore, from early on they have an idea of the general amount they are getting.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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That is not the question.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Lynch must find another way of dealing with it.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The final figure that has been notified is gone out today but discussions on these matters have taken place in housing meetings between the local authority officials and my officials-----

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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The question is that the Minister of State is after stating in the House that the delay is because of the Revised Estimates.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Let the Minister of State finish.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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-----over the past number of months.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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If that is the case, if that is the excuse the Minister of State is using, it means that there was a Revised Estimate being discussed at Cabinet in January and February of this year which means that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have given misleading information to this House on this question.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Nobody said that.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Lynch has made his point.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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That is an assumption by the Deputy,-----

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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The Minister has not answered the question.

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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-----which, I note, is incorrect.