Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 857: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his policy towards the provision of disabled persons grants for the modification of accommodation of persons with special needs; if he has or will issue instructions to the local authorities in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19016/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The administration of the disabled persons grant scheme is delegated to local authorities within the framework laid down in statutory regulations. As far as practicable this is designed to give an appropriate degree of flexibility at local level. The basic requirements for obtaining a disabled persons grant are that the work for which it is sought is, in the opinion of the local authority, reasonably necessary for the purpose of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a disabled member of the household. Under the terms of the scheme, the maximum grant of €20,320 can cover up to 90% of the cost of the works to private houses.

The disabled persons grant scheme is intended, like a number of other housing grant schemes operated by my Department, to assist works which provide additional or adapted accommodation in private houses. However, it is not designed to cover the full cost of works for all applicants. Local authorities may provide reconstruction loans to qualified applicants who have difficulty in obtaining finance to meet the balance of the cost.

A combined capital allocation of €70 million is being made available to local authorities for the payment of disabled persons and essential repairs grants in 2005. Individual allocations were notified to local authorities last week. It is a matter for authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the disabled persons grant scheme from within this combined capital allocation. While two thirds of all expenditure on the scheme is recouped by my Department, authorities are required to fund the remaining one third from their own revenue resources with amounts provided for that purpose in their annual estimates.

I am very much aware of the importance of the disabled persons grants scheme in assisting the provision of appropriate accommodation of disabled persons in the community. It is essential that the available funding be directed to those persons in greatest need of such assistance. It is envisaged that the outcome of the review of the operation of the scheme which is under way in my Department will make a significant contribution to this achievement.