Vol. 498 No. 1
289 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received a submission from a voluntary group (details supplied) in County Galway to enable a project to be undertaken to cater for the homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26800/98]
I have approved funding by Galway Corporation of 50 per cent of the estimated annual cost of £72,000 for the resettlement project in question. My Department will recoup 90 per cent of the corporation's expenditure in relation to the project.
290 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, made on the issue of mainstreaming of housing for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26490/98]
The provision of housing for people with disabilities is already mainstreamed to the extent that the local authority and voluntary housing programmes deal with these housing needs as an element of overall housing provision rather than as a separate function. Of course, special provision is made to assist the adaptation of existing housing to meet the needs of disabled persons through the disabled person's grant scheme, the terms of which I have recently significantly improved. There are, however, certain types of accommodation for people with disabilities which are more appropriately met outside the housing programmes operated by my Department — for example, nursing home or other accommodation where residents would require extensive medical, nursing or institutional-type care.
