COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 14, 2009

QUESTION NO.16

QUESTION: Councillor C King

To ask the Manager to inform and update the Council on the lack of funding for the 'housing aid for older persons grant', 'housing adaption grant' etc taking into account no funding has arrived from the Department since January when it was due and what plans are in place to ensure that our elderly and disabled citizens can receive the essential assistance applied for through these schemes to enable them to live a more comfortable life and can the Manager make a statement on the matter?

REPLY:

 The  Council received confirmation of a funding allocation of €4,545,000 on 7th May, 2009 from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.  The amount of €3,550,670 is recoupable from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.  The balance of €994,330 must be provided by the Council from its out revenue resources.  The following is a breakdown of the funding allocation.

Disabled Persons/Essential Repair Grant Schemes:

Allocation of €640,000 of which one-third must be funded by the Council from its own revenue resources, which amounts to €213,333.

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People Grant Schemes:

Allocation of €3,905,000 of which 20% must be funded by the Council from its own revenue resources, which amounts to €781,000.

Expenditure of applications approved to date is €3,062,793.40 which has been claimed from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government €2,172,289 of which has been recouped to date.                                

Taking into account the number of applications on hand and the financial resources available to the Council there may not be sufficient funds available to process all valid applications both received to date and anticipated applications received to end of year. This will be considered in the context of the revised Budgets for 2009 and 2010.