Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding funding he will provide to Cork City Council and to Cork County Council under the housing adaption grant schemes for older persons and persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47084/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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My Department made combined capital allocations of €1,962,090, €2,545,140 and €1,008,930 to the North, South and West Divisions, respectively, of Cork County Council and €1,855,620 to Cork City Council, in May 2008, for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. The schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. In light of particularly significant levels of activity experienced by Cork County and City Councils this year, I announced in October 2008 a supplementary Exchequer allocation of €1,200,000, (that is €300,000 for Cork City Council and €300,000 for each of the County Council's three Divisions), towards the operation of these schemes in 2008. It is a matter for local authorities 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.

My Department is in the process of liaising with all local authorities regarding their funding requirements under the schemes in 2009 and it is my intention to notify individual allocations to local authorities early in the New Year.

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 effectively to respond to the housing needs of these target groups through the payment of increased numbers of grants.