Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the disabled person grant or housing grants for elderly scheme; the local authorities which are currently operating the scheme in full; those which have suspended applications or are operating a restricted service; if he has issued any direction or instruction to local authorities regarding this scheme which is largely funded by his Department. [21240/10]

Michael 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, a revised suite of Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes was implemented on 1 November 2007. These schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment and approval of applications and the payment of grants to individual applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The new 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.

Having regard to the continued priority which the Government attaches to these schemes and following a comprehensive assessment of the overall level of demand for grant assistance this year, I approved a record Exchequer allocation of €80 million to the local authorities on 5 March, 2010. Over the period 1 January 2010 to 17 May 2010, around 15% of the overall allocation, amounting to €12.179 million, has been recouped by my Department in respect of some 2,145 individual grant payments under the various grant measures. So far no local authority has drawn down the full allocation for 2010 and my Department has not been formally advised of any local authorities having discontinued the schemes in their areas.

To support the implementation of the grant schemes, my Department issued detailed administrative guidance on the operation of the schemes to all local authorities. Local authorities have discretion in determining the eligibility of works or adaptations for grant assistance, having regard to the particular needs of individual applicants. In order to ensure that the available funding is spent as effectively as possible, local authorities are asked to target the grant assistance at essential works and to prioritise applications on the basis of medical need.

My Department continually monitors expenditure by local authorities under the schemes with a view to reallocating the available funding in the event of any savings arising in a particular local authority. Where allocations are likely to be either less than or surplus to requirements, local authorities have been asked to advise my Department accordingly, in order to facilitate the reallocation of any unspent funding and to obtain optimum effectiveness from the funding available. Local authorities have also been requested to set aside part of their allocation to deal with any emergency applications which might arise throughout the year.