Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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349. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if more funding will be made available to local authorities for housing adaptation grants and housing aid for the elderly. [26600/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On 16 January 2014, I announced capital allocations to local authorities amounting to €38.4 million under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. I have increased the level of funding available for the grant schemes by 12% in 2014. Every local authority has increased funding for grants compared to the allocations for 2013. Through careful management of my Department’s housing budget in 2013 additional funds were made available to local authorities with high levels of grant activity. I will be applying the same close scrutiny to the capital budget for 2014 and, in the event of savings arising, these grants will be a priority for supplementary funding.

In January 2014, some changes to the terms and conditions of the grant schemes were notified to local authorities. These changes are intended to spread the benefits of the schemes as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in their operation. I am aware that the grant measures are heavily subscribed across all local authority areas and my Department will be requesting authorities to prioritise those applications where the most urgent need exists.