Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

173. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18325/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 16 January 2014 I announced details of the capital allocations under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability . The schemes are funded by 80% recoupments available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. Every local authority received increased funding for grants compared to the 2013 allocations.

The allocation to Limerick County Council under the grant schemes for 2014 is €1,663,349, of which €332,670 is to be provided from the Council’s own resources. The 2014 allocation to Limerick City Council is €1,198,200, of which €239,640 is to be provided from the City Council’s own resources.

The detailed administration of the schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the local authority.

In the case of local authority owned properties funding is allocated each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock, including the regeneration of large social housing estates and flat complexes, estate-wide remedial works schemes and a range of retrofitting works aimed at improving the fabric and energy efficiency of the properties. The management and maintenance of the social housing stock, including the compilation and funding of on-going maintenance programme and minor adaptation works, is a matter for individual authorities.

Local authorities were advised earlier this year that funding for adaptations and extensions would be considered on a case by case basis. Authorities should, as far as possible, undertake and fund these works from own resources, including from Internal Capital Receipts (ICR’s) , before seeking Exchequer funding. My Department will shortly request local authorities to report on their ICR-funded housing improvement works programme for 2014. Requests for funding for adaptations and extensions to properties will be considered in the light of the returns received in this regard.