Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the shortfall in funding for housing adaption, mobility aids and housing aids for the elderly grants in Kildare County Council in view of the fact there is a shortfall of €7 million, and if he will allocate further funding to Kildare County Council to deal with this shortfall. [37881/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on a report (details supplied) and on a previous parliamentary question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38343/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 381 and 397 together.

A number of local authorities have experienced heightened levels of activity under the revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for older people and people with a disability following their launch in November 2007. All authorities have been requested to operate the grant schemes on a prioritised basis, within available resources, in order to ensure that the available funding is targeted towards those applicants experiencing greatest need.

To take account of particularly significant levels of activity experienced by a number of local authorities, supplementary Exchequer allocations totalling €8.6 million were made in September and October 2008. The October supplementary Exchequer allocations included an additional allocation of €250,000 to Kildare County Council.

In addition, and in line with my objective of prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable households, the total financial provision secured for housing in 2009 will allow for the level of funding allocated towards housing supports for older people and people with a disability next year to be increased by 8% over the initial estimate for 2008.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of allocation issued to each local authority under the housing adaptation grant schemes in 2008; the basis for deciding on the amount allocated in respect of each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37905/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 369 of 7 October 2008, if additional funds have been allocated or will be allocated in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37915/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 382 and 384 together.

In May 2008 my Department notified local authorities of a combined capital allocation of €71.4 million for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for Older People and People with a Disability in private houses in 2008. Individual allocations were notified to local authorities based on their estimated requirements as notified to my Department, and on expenditure trends in recent years.

On foot of the high level of publicity surrounding the revised grant schemes since their launch in November 2007, a significantly increased level of activity has been experienced by local authorities this year. To take account of this, supplementary Exchequer allocations totalling €8.6 million were made in September and October 2008. Details of all allocations in 2008 are set out in the following Table.