Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 December 2007
245 Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if staff and funding have been put in place for the processing of local authority grant aid schemes, the mobility aids grant scheme, the housing aid for older people scheme and housing adaptation grant for people with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33066/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe revised Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability were implemented on 1 November 2007.
In relation to funding for the schemes, monies allocated to local authorities for the administration of the Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes in 2007 have been re-directed to fund the new Adaptation Grant Schemes from 1 November to the end of this year.
In 2008, monies previously allocated to the Disabled Persons, Essential Repairs and Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Grant Schemes will be used to fund the new schemes. Local authorities will be notified of individual allocations following the publication of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2008.
My Department is currently reviewing the overall employment position in the local government sector, in consultation as appropriate with the Department of Finance, having regard to the need to deliver front line services, and achieve value for money within the parameters of Government policy on public service employment generally. Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, the allocation of available staffing resources to the functions within individual local authorities is a matter for the City or County Manager concerned.
The issue of additional staffing resources to administer the new framework of grant aid is also under consideration in the context of ongoing negotiations with the Health Service Executive regarding the transfer of the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme from the Health Service Executive to the local authority sector.
