Deputy Dara Calleary has announced additional funding of €350,000 for Mayo County Council under the 2008 capital allocations for private house grants for older people and people with a disability.
The Fianna Fáil TD was informed of the top-up funding by Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas, Michael Finneran TD, at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting in Galway on Monday.
The top-up allocation came about following a meeting of Fianna Fáil councillors, Cllr Al McDonnell, Cllr Pat McHugh and Cllr Johnnie O'Malley with the Minister on Friday afternoon last in Ballina. That meeting was facilitated by Dep Calleary.
“This is significant funding for the local authority. These grants are administered in accordance with a framework laid down in statutory regulations, which is designed to give an appropriate degree of flexibility to local authorities in addressing the housing needs of older people and people with a disability. This allocation of €350,000 takes the overall allocation for the year to €2,834,300 and will allow the local authority allocate grants for disabled persons, essential repairs and housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability, for private dwellings in 2008," said Dep Calleary.
“Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas, Michael Finneran TD, advises me that his Department remunerates authorities as follows: 60 per cent of costs in respect of claims received on foot of disabled persons and essential repairs grant schemes; 80 per cent of costs in respect of claims received under the new adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability.
“Demand for assistance under these schemes has increased dramatically in recent years and the Government has responded by increasing funding each year. I am pleased that Minister Finneran has responded favourably to our request for additional funding and wish to acknowledge the efforts of the Fianna Fáil councillors in attaining the allocation,” he said.
