Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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502. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is to be more funding made available to Westmeath and Longford local authorities for housing aid for older people, housing adaption grants for people with a disability, housing adaption works to a local authority house and grant schemes. [35547/14]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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On 16 January 2014, details were announced of a €38.4m capital allocation under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability . Every local authority received increased funding for grants compared to the 2013 allocations. The schemes are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the local authority. The allocation to Longford County Council under the grant schemes for 2014 is €744,467, of which €148,893 is to be provided from the Council’s own resources. The allocation to Westmeath County Council under the grant schemes for 2014 is €701,250, of which €140,250 is to be provided from the Council’s own resources.

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 scrutiny to the capital budget for 2014 and, in the event of savings arising these grants will be a priority for supplementary funding.

My Department also provides funding to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet the needs of tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Westmeath County Council and Longford County Council were recently allocated funding of €83,792 and €159,406, respectively, for such purposes this year.

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