Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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839. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to support schemes for necessary home renovations for persons suffering with Alzheimer's and-or dementia, in view of the fact that adaptation grants provided by local authorities such as that in this Deputy's constituency often close, soon after opening, due to lack of funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28904/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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At €50.5 million, the funding that I announced for 2015 for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability is an increase of some 10% on the funding that was available last year. This increase will enable local authorities to deliver an increased level of service to their citizens. In this regard, while it is a matter for each local authority to manage the funding they are allocated for these grants, it is important they ensure that their allocation is expended in full. For 2015, funding of €1,374,568 has been made available for these grants for Louth County Council, an increase of 8% on their 2014 allocation.

My Department also encourages local authorities to make every effort to keep the schemes open and to this end, approvals for grant commitments carried forward into 2016 can issue up to the value of 50% of their 2015 allocation.

Through careful management of my Department’s housing budget in 2014, 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 2015 and, in the event of savings arising, these grants will be a priority for supplementary funding.