Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied with the time it is taking to approve the home improvement grant for the over 60's; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34345/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will publish the criteria for the home improvement grant for the over 60's on the internet or in the national newspapers in order that people can determine if they qualify for the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34346/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.

The revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability introduced in November 2007 provide a more targeted and integrated response to the housing needs of older people and people with a disability. To announce the launch of the revised suite of grant schemes, my Department placed notices in the national press and on the Department's website, while the local authorities notified the public of the launch of the schemes at local level.

Information on each of the grant schemes, including a brief explanation of the types of works allowable and the applicable means-tests, can still be obtained at my Department's website, www.environ.ie, or from local authority offices.

Local authorities prioritise applications under the Housing Aid for Older People (HAOP) scheme on the basis of the medical needs of the applicant and on the urgency and necessity of the identified works. Special consideration is given to applicants in hospital who require works to be completed in order to facilitate the continuance of their care in their own home, or to facilitate their direct return home. The administration of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, including the prioritisation, processing and approval of individual applications, is a matter for individual local authorities and one in which my Department has no direct function.

The high level of publicity surrounding the revised grant schemes since their launch has led to an increased level of activity being experienced by local authorities this year. In response to the particularly high levels of activity under the revised schemes experienced in 2008 by certain local authorities, my Department recently made supplementary Exchequer allocations totalling €3.6 million towards the operation of these schemes this year. The issue of a further round of supplementary allocations to other local authorities will be considered in the event of further funding becoming available. My Department has re-emphasised to local authorities the importance of prioritisation in assessing grant applications given the level of demand being experienced nationally.