Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 1

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Jack Wall

Question:

499 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will change the provisions for the disabled person's grant from 90% to 100% in the forthcoming Finance Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1604/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy):

I introduced significant improvements to the terms and conditions of the disabled persons grants scheme twice in 12 months, in December 1998 and again last December.

As recently as November 1998 the effective maximum grant payable under the scheme was £8,000 or two-thirds of the approved cost of the works in the case of private houses. Since then I have increased the maximum to £14,000 or 90% of the approved cost in the case of works commenced on or after 1 December 1999.

In cases where an applicant faces a difficulty in meeting their portion of the total cost of the works involved, local authorities may assist through the provision of a house improvement loan. If the applicant cannot afford to avail of the loan scheme due to the cost of servicing a loan, it would be open to the authority to provide the full cost of the works under the scheme of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing, subject to the applicant being approved for local authority housing.

In the case of local authority rented houses the maximum grant payable covers the full cost of the approved works. However, I have no proposals to introduce a 100% disabled person's grant in the case of private houses.