Vol. 542 No. 2
336 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the further assistance which can be given to persons (details supplied) in County Carlow to carry out improvement works to their home based on medical grounds and as part of the disabled persons grant scheme; and if the South-Eastern Health Board will communicate with the applicants to advise them in this regard. [24291/01]
As I have previously informed the Deputy, provision of the disabled persons housing modification grant is a matter for the Department of the Environment and Local Government and is administered through the relevant local authority. Health boards are involved with these grants to the extent that an assessment of the individual case must be carried out, generally by an occupational therapist from the health board, in order for the grant to be approved. I understand that the current level of funding available through this grant is a maximum £16,000 or 90% of the cost of the works.
In exceptional circumstances, health boards may provide funding to individuals for various reasons. A decision to provide additional funding for such a case as this is entirely at the discretion of the chief executive officer of the health board. A copy of the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer of the South-Eastern Health Board for his attention.
