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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 4

Written Answers - Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Question:

416 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if there is a review taking place of the disabled person's grant scheme; the position regarding the review; when the review will be completed; when the outcome of the review will be known; and if changes have taken place in relation to the disabled persons grant scheme. [6203/03]

The operation of the disabled person's grant scheme is under review in my Department. I envisage that the review will be finalised in the next few months, at which point I will be able to establish the changes, if any, required to the regulations governing the scheme. As the administration of the disabled person's grant scheme is the responsibility of individual local authorities it is a matter for them to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the scheme in their areas from within the combined capital allocations notified to them by my Department for house purchase and reconstruction loans and disabled person's and essential repairs grants. My Department also recoups to local authorities two thirds of their expenditure on the payment of individual grants. It is the responsibility of the authorities to fund the balance from their own resources from amounts provided for that purpose in their annual Estimates of expenditure.

The significant improvements made in recent years to the maximum disabled person's grant and the level of recoupment available have resulted in increased levels of demand for assistance. Expenditure on the scheme increased from €15.8 million in 1999 to €41.7 million in 2001 and the figures for 2002 are 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. This very significant increase in the level of funding provided is a clear indication of the Government's commitment to the disabled person's grant scheme.

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