John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that reply. My local authority received €1.8 million last week under the disabled persons grants scheme but I believe that is insufficient to meet the needs in my area of Waterford. I welcome the fact an announcement is imminent in regard to the social housing stock but from engaging with the housing team in Waterford, as an example, it could definitely spend an additional €1 million to €1.5 million before year-end if it got an early indication of grant funding. Given those allocations are imminent in terms of the social housing stock, there is an opportunity in this regard. As I said, because of the prudent financial management of the economy, we have additional surpluses and this area really fits the bill, given what we are looking for in terms of the spending of some of those moneys. They are one-off in nature, they are capital in nature and they are very good value for money for the State. I would like the Minister of State to take the message back to the Minister to increase the level of funding to local authorities in this important area.