Vol. 503 No. 6
41 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, taken or envisaged by him to fulfil the commitment made in the Action Programme for the Millennium to review the operation of the disabled person's grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6452/99]
Following completion of a review of the disabled persons grant scheme by my Department in 1998, significant improvements to the terms and conditions of the scheme were announced in the 1999 Budget Statement. The effective maximum grant payable under the scheme was increased by 50 per cent from £8,000 to £12,000 in the case of works commenced on or after 2 December 1998. In addition, the maximum grant payable in respect of private houses was increased to three-quarters of the approved cost of the works compared to two-thirds previously. Disabled persons grants are, of course, paid by local authorities and the maximum recoupment payable by my Department to local authorities in respect of each grant was increased to two-thirds or £8,000 compared to a maximum recoupment of 50 per cent or £4,000 previously.
