Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of funding allocated by Wicklow County Council, Arklow Town Council, Bray Town Council and Wicklow Town Council for the essential repair grant schemes for 2006; if additional funding was requested; if such funding is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37064/06]

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 by my Department for disabled persons and essential repairs grants and to manage the operation of the schemes from within this allocation. Allocations are notified to county councils in respect of the all local authorities within a county.

My Department recoups to local authorities two thirds of their expenditure on the payment of individual grants, with local authorities funding the remaining one third from their own revenue resources with amounts provided for that purpose in their annual budget. The combined capital allocation notified by my Department to Wicklow County Council for the payment of disabled persons and essential repairs grants in 2006 was €2,010,000. My Department is continually monitoring expenditure patterns of local authorities for the schemes to ensure that the resources being made available are utilised to the maximum extent possible. Wicklow County Council has not requested any increase in their 2006 allocation.