Vol. 504 No. 4
215 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the grant scheme, if any, available for the installation of central heating particularly for those in receipt of disability and other benefits from his Department or through local authorities. [12166/99]
There are no such grant schemes available for persons in receipt of disability benefit.
However, under the disabled persons grant scheme a local authority may pay a disabled person's grant in respect of works of adaptation that, in the opinion of the authority, are reasonably necessary for the purpose of rendering a house more suitable for a disabled person. Subject to the regulations, it is a matter in individual cases for local authorities to determine eligibility for a grant and the type of works for which a grant may be given. Local authorities may, for the purposes of determining the level of a disabled persons grant, include the cost of providing central heating in the overall cost of necessary adaptation works. In circumstances where a proposed central heating system extends beyond the accommodation for the disabled person, an apportionment of the cost is made.
