Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction of an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7795/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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On 10 October, 2008, Cork County Council, who are responsible for the administration of the voluntary housing funding schemes, sought certain clarification from my Department on the procurement arrangements pertaining to this project. Following an examination of the procedures followed by the Approved Housing Body, my Department advised the Council on 10 December, 2008, that the procedures did not appear to comply with the requirements of the new Forms of Contract for publicly funded projects. Authorities had been advised of the change to the procurement procedures for all construction projects including those undertaken by Approved Housing Bodies in circulars issued by the Department on 20 October 2006 (IPPP10/2006), on 4 April 2007 (N7/07), and again on 10 August 2007 (IPPP4/2007). I understand the Council recently advised the approved body to seek all tenders in accordance with public procurement requirements.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the mobility and disability grants for the elderly will be notified to the local authorities and particularly councils in Counties Westmeath and Longford; if the precise amount to be allocated is immediately notified in view of the fact that there are numerous applicants for such grants awaiting final approval from their local authority but they cannot be so notified whilst they have not been notified of their final allocations by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7827/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Local authorities will be notified of their capital allocations for 2009 in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, following the publication, shortly, of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009. 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. As in previous years, it will be 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 by my Department, and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within this allocation.