Local Authority Housing Grants

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Questions (855)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

855. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that Kerry County Council received a cut of 56% in the funding being made available for its housing aid grants, mobility aids grants and housing adaptation grants, if he will ensure that a top-off is given, as a matter of urgency, for particular cases that need bathrooms, showers and so on installed in their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17631/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

On 22 February 2013, I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. This year I allocated local authorities the full amount of their contractual commitments which, in the case of Kerry County Council, amounted to €838,493. The balance of the available funding was allocated on the basis of each authority’s share of the new applications on hand in January 2013. This brought Kerry County Council’s overall allocation to €1,445,971.

I have set aside a small capital reserve to deal with any acute or particular difficulty which might arise in the operation of the schemes over the course of the year. I am now considering applications from a number of local authorities for a supplementary allocation, including an application from Kerry County Council.