Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if local authorities have the personnel and resources to administer the new grants schemes recently introduced (details supplied); if he will allocate additional resources in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29538/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently reviewing the overall employment position in the local government sector, in consultation as appropriate with the Department of Finance, having regard to the need to deliver front line services, and achieve value for money within the parameters of Government policy on public service employment generally. Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, the allocation of available staffing resources to the functions within individual local authorities is a matter for the City or County Manager concerned.

The issue of additional staffing resources to administer the new framework of grant aid is also under consideration in the context of ongoing negotiations with the Health Service Executive (HSE) regarding the transfer of the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme from the HSE to the local authority sector.