Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Housing Grants

9:00 pm

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 843: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on reinstating the disabled person's grant for those who have limited access in their own homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1604/10]

Photo of Michael FinneranMichael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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In order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability, and following a review of the old Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly scheme, which was administered by the HSE, a revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability was implemented on 1 November 2007. The revised schemes target the available resources to those in most need, streamline operational and administrative procedures and ensure equity and consistency of operation across all local authority areas.

Under the terms of the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, grants of up to €30,000, which may cover up to 95% of the cost, are available to assist in the carrying out of works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation needs of a person with a disability who is a member of the household. Under the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme, grants of up to €6,000 are available and may cover up to 100% of the cost of a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily, but not exclusively, associated with ageing.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 844: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has sought information from each local authority in relation to their waiting list for housing adaptation grants for the elderly and mobility grants. [2599/10]

Photo of Michael KennedyMichael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 861: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make funding allocations to local authorities for housing adaptation grants proportionate to the population of that local authority area in view of the fact that many local authorities are not receiving enough funding in relation to the high numbers of persons living within their remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48639/09]

Photo of Michael FinneranMichael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 844 and 861 together.

The annual allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are calculated on foot of detailed discussion between my Department and the local authorities and on the basis of the projected level of demand for grants, taking account of the level of applications on hand that have been assessed as eligible, applications yet to be assessed and projections for new applications to be received during the year. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed towards each of the individual schemes, from within the combined allocations from local authority and Exchequer sources, notified to them by my Department, and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within their allocation. My Department has requested local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements under the grant schemes for 2010 by 22 January, with a view to determining the allocations as soon as possible afterwards.

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