Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason some local authorities were allocated more than they sought in 2008 under the disabled person's grant scheme and housing aid for the elderly scheme, such as Cavan, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Offaly, Roscommon and Waterford County Councils; the reason Kildare County Council only received 33% of the amount sought while Carlow County Council received 79%, Clare County Council received 92% and Westmeath County Council received 91% of the amount sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14174/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 882 of 24 March 2009.

Allocations to local authorities under the Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes and the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability are calculated on the basis of a number of criteria and on foot of detailed discussions between my Department and the local authorities.

A range of relevant issues are taken into consideration in determining allocations to individual local authorities. These include the overall amount of funding available at national level, the levels of activity experienced under each of the schemes in previous years, the volume of claims on hand in local authorities, the degree to which prioritisation of applications has taken place, the ability of individual authorities to meet their share of the cost in recouping claims to applicants and the anticipated level of activity in the year in question.

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 by my Department, and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within this allocation. Recoupments are made having regard to the final allocations for a particular year and on foot of payment claims received from the local authorities, setting out details of certified expenditure under each of the schemes.