Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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247. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form by county, the number of persons awaiting assistance under the housing aid for older persons scheme and the mobility aids grant scheme; the total amount required by each local authority in respect of approvals made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12504/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Exchequer funding of over €37 million was provided by my Department to local authorities in 2014 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Combined with an additional 20% contribution by individual local authorities, there was an overall spend last year of €46.3 million in this area. I am pleased to confirm that the 2015 amount will increase by some 10% to give a combined spend of €50.5 million. Once individual allocations are made to local authorities, the detailed administration of the schemes thereafter, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants, is the responsibility of individual local authorities.

Information on the requirements of local authorities regarding these grant schemes is obtained when required, particularly in the context of the estimates process. However, my Department does not hold information on an on-going basis on the number of persons by county awaiting grant assistance.