Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2015
222. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has received correspondence from the various local authorities regarding the lack of sufficient funding to meet housing adaptation grant requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38808/15]
View answer223. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the funding approved in respect of housing adaptation grant requirements has been drawn down by the respective local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38809/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together.
A total funding allocation for 2015 of €50.5m nationally was made for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. To date 56% of the funding has been expended on the grant schemes.
My Department is in ongoing contact with local authorities regarding these schemes and in that context, a number of authorities with high levels of grant activity have indicated that additional funding, if provided, could be expended by them on further projects. Engagement with the authorities also includes identifying other cases where there is potential underspend and this will allow additional allocations to be made shortly to authorities with greater spend potential.
My Department encourages local authorities to keep the schemes open for applications and to this end, approvals for grant commitments carried forward into 2016 can issue up to the value of 50% of their 2015 allocation.
