Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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882. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding housing adaptation grants in respect of persons with disabilitites (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37304/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On 22 February 2013 I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. Through active management of my Department's overall housing budget for 2013, I allocated further funding across all Local Authorities on 19 July bringing the overall funding for these grants to €45.607 million.

In the case of Kerry County Council, the initial allocation for the grant schemes in 2013 amounted to €1,445,971. I approved two subsequent supplementary allocations in April and July,bringing the Council's overall allocation to €1,697,533.

I am currently reviewing the operation of the grant schemes with the objective of targeting those in most need and ensuring that the maximum numbers of households can benefit from these schemes. My Department will continue to explore all opportunities to stretch the available resources and I intend to announce revised terms and conditions for the grant schemes later this year. Capital allocations to local authorities next year are being considered in the context of the Estimates for 2014 and the competing demands for funding across all the measures within my Department's housing programme.