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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

184 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when funding will be made available for approved applicants under the housing assistance for disabled persons grant scheme; the reason this funding is being withheld in the case of Louth County Council; if there are other local authorities being disadvantaged by non-payments from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20900/02]

No funding for approved applicants for disabled persons grants is being withheld by my Department from Louth County Council. Local authorities receive a total combined annual capital allocation from my Department in respect of the disabled persons and essential repairs grant schemes and house purchase and improvement loans. The breakdown of the allocation between the different schemes is a matter for individual authorities in the light of local circumstances.

Louth County Council received an allocation of €500,000 for these purposes in June 2002. Since then, in view of their level of expenditure and commitments entered into, this allocation has been increased to its current level of €1.554 million. Two thirds of grant expenditure is recouped to the local authority by my Department with the balance being funded from the local authorities own resources and within amounts provided for that purpose in the authorities' annual estimates.

I am aware that, following improvements introduced by my Department to the disabled persons grants scheme since 1998, the level of activity has increased significantly and the allocations of a number of other authorities have also been increased to meet this demand. While it is open to a local authority to seek a higher allocation, an increased capital allocation would not, of itself, allow increased expenditure without a corresponding upward revision of the authority's provision in its own estimates for the payment of disabled persons grants. The amount recouped to Louth County Council under the disabled persons grant scheme has also been increased substantially over recent years. Last year my Department recouped €443,507 to the council in respect of 61 disabled persons grants compared to €146,337 in respect of 50 grants in 1998. To date this year, over €473,000 has been recouped in respect of 55 grants.

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