Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to provide funding to local authorities to assist with funding for the provision of grants to the elderly in relation to mobility, housing adaption and housing aid applications and as such to assist the building industry overcome the present employment problems within the industry by creating employment opportunities in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44484/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. In May 2008 my Department notified local authorities of a combined capital allocation of €71.4 million for the operation of the schemes in private houses in 2008. On foot of significantly increased levels of activity at local level, supplementary Exchequer allocations totalling €8.6 million were made in September and October 2008.

It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed towards each of the schemes, from within the combined allocation notified to them, and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within this allocation. Notification of individual allocations to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability in 2009 will be made following the publication of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009. My Department is in the process of liaising with all local authorities regarding their funding requirements under the schemes in 2009. 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. This provision will enable local authorities to continue to effectively respond to the housing needs of these target groups through the payment of increased numbers of grants.

While the primary objective of the suite of grants schemes is to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability, their operation also supports a certain level of activity in the construction sector.