Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 January 2013
132. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding available to local authorities in 2013 on a county basis in relation to the construction of new houses for persons with disabilities and special needs and if he will provide the information on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2089/13]
View answerThe provision of special needs housing is mainly funded under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for approved housing bodies. Under the CAS, funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need including older people, people with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability, the homeless, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence.
My Department’s involvement with the CAS relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the scheme, including the appraisal of proposals, the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding scheme and the processing of applications for funding, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
Work is currently underway on preparing the capital allocations under the Social Housing Investment Programme for 2013, including the CAS measure. As part of this process, my Department requested local authorities to submit details of their capital requirements for this year in respect of approved projects and programmes by 25 January. I intend to announce details of the capital allocations to individual local authorities as soon as possible afterwards.
