Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Housing Grants.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

602 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will provide a 100 per cent grant for the disabled persons scheme operated by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17988/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy):

I introduced significant improvements to the terms and conditions of the disabled persons grants scheme in December last.

The effective maximum grant payable under the scheme was increased by 50 per cent from £8,000 to £12,000 in the case of works commenced on or after 2 December 1998. In addition, the maximum grant payable in respect of private houses was increased to three-quarters of the approved cost of the works compared to two-thirds previously, subject to the overall maximum grant of £12,000. In the case of local authority rented houses the maximum grant payable covers the full cost of the approved works.

In cases where an applicant faces a difficulty in meeting their portion of the total cost of the works involved, local authorities may assist through the provision of a house improvement loan. If the applicant cannot afford to avail of the loan scheme due to the cost of servicing a loan, it would be open to the authority to provide the full cost of the works under the scheme of improvement works in lieu of local authority housing, subject to the applicant being approved for local authority housing.