Vol. 573 No. 2
178 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government when funding will be provided to Waterford County Council in order that disabled persons grant applicants which have been cleared for pay ment can be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24631/03]
Local authorities were notified of a combined allocation for the payment of disabled persons and essential repairs grants in June. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the schemes in their areas from within this allocation. Authorities were requested to contact my Department if their allocation was either inadequate or surplus to their requirements to facilitate the possible reallocation of funds and to obtain optimum effectiveness from the funding available. Applications for additional funding, including one from Waterford County Council, are now being considered in this context and a decision will be conveyed to the authorities concerned as soon as possible.
