Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 533: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the numbers of meetings he or his officials have had with the Health Service Executive in seeking to finalise a report and resultant decisions in relation to streamlining the payment of a disability payment; the present position of a local authority paying a certain percentage and the HSE paying a top-up grant where the local authorities payment does not meet the necessary funding to ensure the completion of the disability payment application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42813/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the Disabled Persons Grant scheme, which incorporates the conditions governing the Essential Repairs Grant scheme and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly scheme and the issue of the HSE 'top-up' grant was recently finalised within my Department. Representatives of my Department, the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and Local Authorities have been in regular contact on the future operation of the schemes. A formal meeting of this group took place on 24 October 2006 and discussions have continued since then.

Proposals for the future operation of the schemes are expected to be announced early next year in the context of a new Housing Policy Statement.