Vol. 557 No. 5
222 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the terms of the grants available to people for essential repairs or for making adaptations to accommodate a person with a disability; and if he proposes to change these in 2003. [22991/02]
The disabled persons and the essential repairs grant schemes are administered by the local authorities in accordance with the legal framework laid down in section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979, and statutory regulations made under that Act. The schemes enable city and county councils to grant aid necessary adaptation works to a house to meet the needs of an elderly or disabled person.
Significant improvements have been made to the terms and conditions of the disabled persons grant scheme in recent years with a doubling of the effective maximum grant since 1997 from €10,158 to €20,320 currently. The grant now covers 90% of the approved cost of the works compared to two-thirds in 1997. The recoupment rate from my Department to local authorities in respect of grants paid has also increased from 50% to two-thirds. A disabled person's new house grant of up to an effective maximum of €12,700 has also been introduced.
In recent years the amount of recoupment payable by my Department to local authorities under the essential repairs grants scheme has also increased significantly. Prior to December 1998 local authorities were recouped 50% of each essential repairs grant paid up to a maximum of €1,143 in each case. Since that date two-thirds of the amount of grant paid is recouped, up to a maximum recoupment of €6,353 in each case. The effective maximum essential repairs grant has increased from €2,286 in December 1998 to €9,530 currently.
While there is no proposal to change these schemes at this time, my Department will continue to keep the terms and conditions of the schemes under review. Copies of leaflets outlining the operation of these schemes are available in the Oireachtas Library. Further details of the operation of these schemes, together with application forms, are available from local authorities.
Question No. 223 answered with Question No. 218.
