Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Disabled Person's Grant Scheme.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

496 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the physically disabled person's grant in north Tipperary has been frozen by the county manager due to lack of local government funding; and if adequate funding will be made available in order that all qualified applicants benefit from this worthwhile scheme, particularly in this the European Year of the Disabled. [3475/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen):

The administration of the disabled persons grant scheme is a matter for individual local authorities, in this case, North Tipperary County Council. The council wrote to my Department recently outlining their financial position on the scheme arising from increased demand and making proposals for changes in its funding and implementation.

It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the dis abled persons grant scheme in their areas from within the combined capital allocation notified to them by my Department for house purchase and reconstruction loans and disabled persons and essential repairs grants. My Department also recoups to local authorities two thirds of their expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The balance must be funded at local authority level from a local authority's own resources. While it is open to a local authority to seek a higher allocation from my Department in the event of increased demand, increased expenditure by a local authority on this scheme would also involve an upward revision of the authority's provision from its own resources.

The significant improvements made in recent years to the maximum grant and level of recoupment available have resulted in increased levels of activity with expenditure on the scheme increasing from €15.8 million in 1999 to €41.7 million in 2001. The figures for 2002 are currently being compiled. In line with this increase in the Department's capital provision for the scheme, recoupment costs have also increased significantly from €6.3 million for 2,512 grants in 1998 to almost €31.5 million for 5,070 grants in 2002. In the case of north Tipperary County Council alone recoupment has risen from €137,000 for 48 grants in 1998 to €688,000 for 98 grants in 2002. This very significant increase in the level of funding provided is a clear indication of the Government's commitment to the disabled persons grant scheme. However, local authorities have the responsibility of managing the scheme within the funding possibilities afforded to them.

The contents of the letter from north Tipperary County Council are being examined in my Department and a reply will issue as soon as possible. The operation of the disabled persons grant scheme is being reviewed in the Department and the Council's proposals for its modification will be considered in this context.