Vol. 558 No. 4
417 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will revise the terms of the disabled persons grant in order that his Department meets in full the payments in respect of the grants; if he will increase the funding available for the disabled persons grant in order that a contribution is not required from the applicant and that same be available on the basis of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24670/02]
The disabled persons grant scheme is administered by 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 scheme enables local authorities to grant aid necessary adaptation works to a house to meet the needs of a 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 from €10,158 in 1997 to €20,320 currently. In addition, 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, and a disabled persons new house grant of up to an effective maximum of €12,700 has been introduced.
I have no proposals, at this stage, to change the terms and conditions of disabled persons grant scheme but these will continue to be kept under review.
