Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Local Authority Funding.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

1318 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the provision of funding for a project (details supplied) in County Cork. [21296/03]

An application for a grant under the voluntary housing capital assistance scheme in respect of 14 units of accommodation for persons with disabilities was recently received from Cork County Council, who are responsible for the detailed administration of the scheme in their areas. A decision on the application must await the receipt of certain information which has been requested from the Council.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

1319 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the extra resources his Department proposes to make available in this coming year in view of the increased demands on local authorities in dealing with structural projects to eliminate anti-social behaviour. [21297/03]

All local authority expenditure, whether in relation to social programmes or otherwise, is funded from a variety of sources including specific State grants, commercial rates, rents, fees and charges for services and from significant funding made available to local authorities through grants from the local government fund.

The designation of projects to tackle anti social behaviour would, in this context, be a matter for the local authority concerned. However, in line with the Governments commitment to promoting social inclusion generally, a number of specific schemes operated by my Department may include funding for projects which are designed to benefit, in particular, disadvantaged local authority estates which suffer from anti-social behaviour. The provision of funding for such projects in 2004 will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Estimates process.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

1320 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if support will be given to the Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and its concerns regarding the disabled persons grant, which many local authorities have cancelled for 2003, be addressed. [21298/03]

I am aware of the concerns expressed by the Irish Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus regarding the operation of the disabled persons grant. The administration of the disabled persons grant scheme is a matter for individual local authorities. It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the scheme in their areas from within the combined allocations notified to them by my Department in respect of the disabled persons and essential repairs grants.

Authorities were notified of their allocations for the payment of disabled persons and essential repairs grants on 5 June 2003. They were requested to contact my Department if their allocation was either inadequate or surplus to their requirements to facilitate the re-allocation of funds and to obtain optimum effectiveness from the funding available. Applications for additional funding are now being considered in this context and a decision will issue as soon as possible to the authorities concerned.
The significant improvements which have been in recent years to the maximum disabled persons grant and the level of recoupment available have resulted in increased levels of demand with expenditure on the scheme increasing from €13 million for 2,455 grants in 1998 to €52.6 million for 5,932 grants in 2002. In line with this very significant increase in my Department's capital provision for the scheme, recoupment costs have also increased from €6.3 million for 2,512 grants in 1998 to almost €31.5 million for 5,070 grants in 2002. In that time the maximum grant has doubled from €10,158 to €20,320. These very significant increases in the levels of funding provided are a clear indication of the Governments commitment to the disabled persons grant scheme. A review of the scheme is being finalised in my Department. On completion of the review, I will be in a position to determine the changes, if any, required to the regulations governing the scheme.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

1321 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he has received an application for additional funding from Kildare County Council to enable it to meet the costs of the disabled person's grant scheme; if he will sanction the required additional funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21299/03]

Local authorities were notified of their allocations for the payment of disabled persons and essential repairs grants on 5 June 2003. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the disabled persons grant scheme in their areas from within the combined allocation provided. The allocation to Kildare County Council was €1.642 million.

While it is open to a local authority to seek a higher allocation in the event of increased demand, an increased capital allocation would not of itself allow increased expenditure by the authority without a corresponding upward revision of its provision to meet its own one third contribution to expenditure on the scheme.

Authorities were requested to contact my Department if their allocation was either inadequate or surplus to their requirements to facilitate the re-allocation of funds and to obtain optimum effectiveness from the funding available. Applications for additional funding, including one from Kildare County Council, are now being considered in this context and a decision will issue as soon as possible to the authorities concerned.
Barr
Roinn