Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allocate additional funds to County Kerry for the housing aid for older people scheme, to allow for essential repairs and improvement works to be carried out to the homes of the elderly. [26786/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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The suite of Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability is 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 totalling €2,767,218 was allocated to Kerry County Council to meet expenditure arising under the schemes in 2011. So far, some €918,330 of this has been drawn down by the Council.

A request for additional funding of €500,000 has recently been received from Kerry County Council. As all of the funding available under the grant schemes has been fully committed at this stage, the Council's request will be considered in the context of any savings which may arise due to an under-spend by any local authority of their 2011 allocation.