Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2024
112. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to monies given to local authorities for adaptation grants, and not allocated in any given financial year, if he will clarify how the unallocated funds are accounted for; and if they are repurposed or if they are returned to the Exchequer for reallocation. [28587/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.
The Exchequer funding provision of €74.5 million for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme has been increased by €8 million for 2024. Local authorities were informed of their 2024 allocations with each local authority receiving an increase on the 2023 allocation, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.
Details of allocations, the number of grants paid and the amount spent by all local authorities from 2008 to 2023 are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability-private-houses
My Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of available funding. This means that any underspends that arise on the part of any local authority can be redistributed to other authorities that have high levels of grant activity and the Department makes every effort to redistribute such funding throughout the year. My Department encourages all local authorities to ensure all applications on hand are processed to the degree possible for final payment to ensure optimal spend on their annual allocation.
