Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
1373 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious problem facing applicants for disabled person’s grants in County Kildare; if he will make a supplementary sum available of €3.6 million to the council to clear the backlog on the basis of 100% funding from his Department, thereby releasing the council from providing its 33%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1878/05]
View answer
It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the disabled persons grant scheme in their area from within the allocation notified to them for disabled persons and essential repairs grants by my Department and to manage the operation of the schemes from within this allocation. My Department recoups to local authorities two thirds of their expenditure on the payment of individual grants and it is a matter for the authorities to fund remaining one third from their own revenue resources, with amounts provided for that purpose in their annual estimates of expenses. All authorities have been asked to indicate their capital requirements and proposals for the funding of their own one third contribution for these schemes in 2005. On receipt of this information, the available funding will be allocated to authorities.
The requirements of Kildare County Council, when clarified to my Department, will be considered in this context. Details of the funding available for the payment of disabled persons and essential repairs grants will be published shortly in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2005. Officials from my Department met with council officials last November to discuss the operation of the disabled persons and essential repairs grant schemes in Kildare. The council undertook to examine further certain aspects of the operation of the scheme and to revert to my Department in this regard. A response from the council is awaited.
