Vol. 509 No. 4
276 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the extra demand on local authorities for the provision of disabled persons' grants; if his Department has assessed the need for extra resources in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20755/99]
I introduced significant improvements to the terms and conditions of the disabled persons' grants scheme in December last. 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. The maximum recoupment payable by my Department to local authorities in respect of each grant was also increased to two thirds or £8,000 compared to a maximum recoupment of 50 per cent or £4,000 previously. This increase in the recoupment rate allowed local authorities to pay the higher grants now available at no increased cost to the authority.
