Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
530. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the cuts that have been directed at local authorities which were not published at the time; the amount he is proposing to cut in the grant funding which was being made available for persons to live in their own homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1723/14]
View answer531. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the directive that was sent out on 31 December 2013 to all local authorities regarding payment of grants to elderly disabled persons who want to carry out renovations to their own homes, if it is true that this memo stated that persons will be forced to repay the grants if their homes are sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1724/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 531 together.
I intend to announce details of the capital allocations to local authorities in respect of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability very shortly. There has been no cut in the funding for these grant schemes in 2014.
Adjustments to the terms and conditions of the grant schemes were made on foot of the findings of a review group which was established in 2013 to examine the operation of these schemes. The principal objective was to ensure that the benefits were spread as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in the operation of the grant schemes.
The revised arrangements will see more people receiving grants for works which will assist them to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible.
The report of the review group recommended that a graduated claw-back provision should apply where grant aid is provided in respect of an extension to a house and where the house is subsequently sold within a period of 5 years. No decision has been made so far in relation to the clawback.
