Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 744: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the €18 million unspent on the disabled person's grant scheme nationally in 2004, he has put in place a monitoring system throughout the local authorities which will enable him to reallocate funds from authorities that will not use up their allocation in 2005 to authorities that at present have spent their budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32495/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 1421 of 28 September 2005. The position is unchanged.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 745: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he does not know the number of local authorities here who have in place means testing for the disabled person's grant scheme in view of the fact that his Department is carrying out a review of the scheme. [32502/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The administration of the disabled person's grant scheme is delegated to local authorities within the framework laid down in statutory regulations. As far as is practicable, that is designed to give an appropriate degree of flexibility at local level.

The review of the disabled person's grant scheme has involved an examination of the principal features of the scheme, including the question of means testing. In that regard, the extent to which means testing is already employed by some local authorities is being considered. The approaches of different local authorities have varied over time. In this context, authorities review their schemes on an ongoing basis to streamline their operation and have been introducing a variety of mechanisms to ensure that the available resources are targeted to those in most need, including prioritisation on grounds of medical and financial need or cost control.

While my Department is aware that several local authorities have regard to the financial capacity of applicants, it does not have detailed definitive information on a countrywide basis of the arrangements involved. On completion of the review it will be possible to determine the changes, if any, required to the regulations governing the scheme to ensure that the funding available is directed at those persons in greatest need of such assistance.