Finian McGrath
Question:678 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are housing projects or schemes for people with a disability particularly on the northside of Dublin. [33963/06]
View answerTuesday, 24 October 2006
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Written answers
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)
My Department provides capital funding to assist voluntary and co-operative housing associations to deliver high quality housing for low income families as well as for vulnerable groups such as elderly people, people with disabilities, the homeless and travellers. Earlier this year I substantially increased the capital funding limits for voluntary and co-operative housing projects. My Department's involvement with the capital funding schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the scheme, are the responsibility of the local authority.
Some housing projects, which require a higher ratio of carers to residents than a caretaker to allow for independent living, may be provided through a shared funding arrangement between the housing authority concerned and the relevant Health Service Executive. Assistance towards the cost of care and support services provided in sheltered housing over and above those normally required in housing management are a matter for the Health Service Executive concerned.
There are currently some 629 voluntary bodies with approved status from my Department, who may seek assistance to provide accommodation for any, or a number of, eligible categories of persons. Since the commencement of the scheme, over 10,000 units of accommodation have been provided. Details of the number of accommodation units specifically provided for the various eligible categories of persons are not available in my Department.