Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 April 2014
179. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of grant aid that was allocated to the local authorities in counties Westmeath and Longford since 2013. [18434/14]
View answerOn 16 January 2014, I announced details of the capital allocations under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The schemes are funded by 80% recoupments available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
The allocation to Westmeath County Council under the grant schemes for 2014 is €701,250, of which €140,250 is to be provided from the Council’s own resources. The Council’s 2013 allocation under the grant schemes was €435,722, of which €87,144 was provided from own resources.
The allocation to Longford County Council under the grant schemes for 2014 is €744,467, of which €148,893 is to be provided from the Council’s own resources. The Council’s 2013 allocation under the grant schemes was €687,674, of which €137,535 was provided from own resources.
Through careful management of my Department’s housing budget in 2013 additional funds were made available to local authorities with high levels of grant activity. I will be applying the same scrutiny to the capital budget for 2014 and, in the event of savings arising, these grants will be a priority for supplementary funding.
