Vol. 564 No. 1
121 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the comments his Department has made to local authorities, some of whom have announced their withdrawal, or their intention to withdraw, from the home adaptation grant scheme for the disabled; his views on whether such behaviour is desirable; and the measures the Government intends to take to ensure that local authorities live up to their responsibilities in this regard. [8404/03]
128 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious criticism by the Irish Wheelchair Association of the disabled persons housing grant, who described it as a shambles, with more than 6,000 people waiting for grants; the steps he intends to take to deal with the serious concerns expressed by the association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8738/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 128 together.
I am aware of the concerns of the Irish Wheelchair Association in relation to the disabled persons grant scheme and of the funding implications for both the Exchequer and local authorities of the significantly increased demand for assistance under the scheme. My Department is currently undertaking a review of the operation of the scheme. On completion of the review, which I envisage within in the next few months, I will be in a position to determine the changes, if any, required to the regulations governing the scheme.
The administration of the disabled persons grant scheme is a matter for individual local authorities and is operated within a framework, laid down by statutory regulations, which is designed, as far as is practicable, to give them an appropriate degree of flexibility in administering the scheme. It is a matter for the authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the scheme in their areas from within the combined allocations notified to them for this purpose by my Department. My Department recoups to local authorities two-thirds of their expenditure on the payment of individual grants and it is the responsibility of the authorities to fund the balance from their own revenue resources. The amount they provide in their annual estimates of expenditure for this purpose is a matter for the authority concerned. While it is open to a local authority to seek a higher allocation in the event of increased demand, an increased capital allocation would not of itself allow increased expenditure by the authority without a corresponding upward revision of its own provision for expenditure on the scheme.
