Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 985: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a decision will be made regarding the situation where essential repair grants for the elderly and special housing aid for the elderly grants are dealt with by two different Departments; when a decision will be made that all these grant applications should be dealt with by one Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14892/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The current review of the disabled person's grant scheme includes the interrelated nature of disabled persons, essential repairs and the special housing aid for the elderly grant schemes and the issue raised in the question is being considered in this context.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 986: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Government will make the necessary funding available to Galway County Council and Galway City Council in order that they will be able to sanction grant aid to elderly people for repairs to their houses under the essential repairs grant; and when the necessary funds will be made available to Galway County Council and Galway City Council to enable them to begin dealing with grants for necessary repairs to the homes of elderly people. [14894/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the essential repairs grant scheme in their area from within the allocation notified to them for disabled person's and essential repairs grants by my Department and to manage the operation of the schemes from within this allocation. My Department recoups to local authorities two thirds of their expenditure on the payment of individual grants, with local authorities funding the remaining third from their own revenue resources with amounts provided for that purpose in their annual estimates of expenses.

A combined capital allocation of €71 million has been provided for the payment of disabled person's and essential repairs grants in 2006. Allocations, which will be notified to local authorities shortly, will be adequate to meet their requirements for the schemes as notified to my Department.