(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment if he will increase substantially home improvement grants for disabled persons in view of the increase in building costs since the grants were last revised.

I do not propose to change the terms of the disabled persons' grant scheme.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister agree that since this grant was increased last, the cost of reconstruction and building works have escalated enormously with the result that the grant is totally out of date? In these circumstances, would the Minister be good enough to consider the situation with a view to increasing the grant in the limited type of case in question?

In December 1977 this grant was increased from £400 to £1,200. A percentage of up to a maximum of £1,200 is recouped by my Department from the local authorities and their usual practice is to put up £ for £ to a maximum of £2,400.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Since the grant was increased there has been an increase of at least 100 per cent in building costs.

But the Deputy will appreciate that the increase in the grant, from £400 to £1,200, was substantial.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I am told by members of the Irish Wheelchair Association that these grants are valueless.

I do not know how that can be said because the grants are substantial. There is the grant element from my Department and also that from the local authorities.

I realise that the Minister has been left with very little money and without manoeuvrability in regard to this grant for this year but in view of the fact that 1981 is to be designated internationally as the year of the disabled, would the Minister be prepared to meet delegations from the Irish Wheelchair Association and from other groups involved in facilitating the disabled with a view to ascertaining whether grant and loan schemes could be introduced by way of the Minister's contribution to the proposed year of the disabled?

Of course I am prepared to meet this year representatives from organisations associated with the disabled as I have been prepared always to meet them in the past when requested to do so.