David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the yearly expenditure to date on the national disability strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39272/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department allocates funds annually to individual local authorities on the basis of priority areas identified in capital and current expenditure proposals submitted by them each year; Capital funds are intended to address the priority needs of people with a disability by providing and improving accessibility to public buildings, roads, footpaths, beaches, amenity areas, heritage sites and swimming pools. Current funding is directed towards disability awareness training, accessibility audits, adapting information systems and providing equipment to improve accessibility of public services.

They yearly expenditure to date on the National Disability Strategy is as follows:

2005: €10,568,148;

2006: €17,488,090;

2007: €15,074,001;

2008: €1,983,118 (year-to-date).

I have allocated a total of €15 million for 2008 and expect that the balance will be drawn down by the end of the year.