Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding assistance under the disabled persons grant scheme; if he will give an assurance that the local authority will have sufficient funding to deal with the deferred 2011 applications and new applications for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31706/11]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding assistance under the housing aid for older people grant scheme; if he will give an assurance that the local authority will have sufficient funding to deal with the deferred 2011 applications and new applications for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31707/11]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that Kerry County Council faces into 2012 with a large number of persons on a waiting list seeking assistance under the housing aid and mobility grants scheme, if he will give an assurance that the local authority will have sufficient funding to deal with the deferred 2011 applications and new applications for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31743/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 77 and 85 together.

The suite of grant schemes for older people and people with a disability 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.

On 17 February 2011, my Department notified Kerry County Council of an Exchequer allocation of almost € 2.78 million under the grant schemes for 2011. Earlier this month I approved an additional €0.5 million Exchequer funding, bringing the total allocation for the year to €3.28 million. To date some €2.18 million of this, amounting to 67% of the approved funding, has been drawn down by the Council.

Kerry County Council have not advised my Department of having deferred applications for the schemes in their area. My Department is aware however that these schemes are very heavily subscribed and available funding has been heavily committed in many areas.

To provide for continuity in the processing of applications and the payment of grants under the various grant measures, local authorities are advised by my Department that they can commit up to 50% of their current years allocation for payment to applicants in the following year.

To comprehensively assess the overall level of demand for grant assistance under the suite of grant schemes for older people and people with a disability, my Department will, in early January 2012, request local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements for the year, with a view to determining the 2012 allocations as soon as possible after the publication of the 2012 Revised Estimates for Public Services.