Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the home adaptation and essential repairs grant allocations that were made by local authorities, in 2010 and 2011; if the absence of matching funds is impeding drawdown of these grants; if so, the location of same; if any local authorities have indicated a need for additional resources to administer the grant system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21640/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, introduced in November 2007, replaced the discontinued Disabled Persons Grant Scheme, the Essential Repairs Grant Scheme and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme, administered by the Health Service Executive.

The grant schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed to each of the various grant measures, and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within their allocation. Exchequer funding amounting to €78.7m was allocated and recouped to local authorities in respect of the grant schemes in 2010. Allocations totalling almost €64m were notified to local authorities under the grant schemes on 17 February 2011. To date some €18.3m, amounting to 29% of the Exchequer funding, has been drawn down by the local authorities.

My Department is aware that these schemes are very heavily subscribed and available funding has been committed in many areas. My Department is also aware of the financial constraints on local authority own resources funding at this time and, in order to relieve the pressure on revenue funding, agreed to allow authorities to use internal capital receipts to boost the revenue funding available for supporting the grant schemes in 2011.

The allocations to local authorities for 2010 and 2011 are set out in the following table: