Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
175. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of recent figures that almost 1 in 10 persons aged 65 and over are at risk of poverty and that almost half of older people living alone are in the bottom 40% of the income bracket in CSO 2013 if he will reverse the cuts imposed on the housing adaptation grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40257/13]
View answerThe requirement to reduce public expenditure to sustainable levels is impacting on capital programmes all across the public service, including my Department’s housing capital programme. The level of capital funding available has declined significantly in recent years along the lines highlighted in the Medium Term Exchequer Framework for Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016. As a result capital spending on housing programmes is subject to constraint over the short-term. 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. Through active management of the overall housing budget for 2013, I allocated further funding across all local authorities on 19 July bringing the overall funding for these grants to €45.607 million. My Department is closely monitoring expenditure across all the measures under the housing programme. I will consider allocating further funds to the grants measure in the event of any saving arising elsewhere.
I am currently reviewing the operation of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability with the objective of targeting those in most need and ensuring that the maximum numbers of households can benefit from these schemes. I intend to announce revised terms and conditions for the grant schemes later this year. Capital allocations to local authorities for next year are currently being considered in the context of the Estimates for 2014.
