Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 3

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

410 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will re-examine the level of funding provided to local authorities in the case of both the disabled persons' reconstruction grant and the essential repairs for the elderly grant schemes, in view of the fact that many local authorities are refusing to even accept applications for same, since they themselves cannot afford the funding from their own resources to meet the present level of contribution expected from them; his views on whether there are problems with these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10897/03]

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

I refer the Deputy to the reply to Questions Nos. 78 and 298 of 1 April 2003. The amounts recouped to local authorities by my Department under the disabled person's grant scheme have increased five-fold from 1997 to €31.5 million in 2002 and have increased ten-fold under the essential repairs grants scheme to €8.8 million over the same period. In addition, having regard to the issues in hand, a review of the scheme is under way.