Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2019
287. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the 2019 housing adaptation grant funding for older persons and persons with a disability for Sligo County Council has been reduced from the 2018 allocation of €1.6 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14352/19]
View answerThe initial funding 2018 allocation to Sligo County Council in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, was €1,367,534. Later in the year, a request from the Council for additional funding was facilitated by my Department, with a further €232,466 provided, bringing the Council's total allocation for 2018 to €1.6 million.
Sligo County Council's initial 2019 allocation of €1,405,298, is an increase of €37,764 on their initial 2018 allocation. Based on population, which increasingly is the basis on which allocations are made, this is a fair allocation to Sligo relative to the thirty other local authorities.
Over the course of each year, my Department works closely with all local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. As the year progresses, any underspend is redistributed to those local authorities with high levels of grant activity who seek additional funding. Sligo County Council can be considered for additional funding in this context, if it emerges that other local authorities will not spend in full.
