His comment follows the allocation of EUR1,308,060 to Clare Local Authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants Scheme for 2008.

Minister Killeen described it as a worthwhile scheme as it provided invaluable assistance to older people and people with a disability living in private houses. 

He said it helped them to continue to live in their own communities with the dignity that they deserved.

According to the Junior Agriculture Minister, “The substantial increase in the grant levels and the targeting of resources to those most in need will ensure that the grants will continue to address the housing needs of a number of vulnerable sections of our community”.
 
“It is also very encouraging to hear that the allocations to Clare Local Authorities in 2007 in respect of these Schemes has been expended in full”, Minister Killeen stated.

Mr. Michael Finneran, T.D., Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas, this week announced EUR71.405 million under the Adaptation Grants scheme.

It is estimated that a further EUR12m will be spent on works of adaptation to make local authority rented houses more suitable for a disabled member of the household, bringing the total expenditure in the area to EUR83.4 million.

Expenditure under the Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme, during the lifetime of this Government, from 1997 to 2007, has totalled almost EUR652 million with more than 120,000 grants paid.

-ENDS-
 
Notes to Editor:
- Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry), is available for interview and further comment on 0035387-2525304. Alternatively please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available on request

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (mobile)
00353-656839692 (fax)