Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
534. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for changing the eligibility criteria for disability housing supports, including the disability adaptation grants scheme; and the reason organisations working with elderly and disabled persons were not consulted prior to the changes taking effect. [1750/14]
View answerA review group was established by my Department to examine the terms and conditions governing the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Membership of the group included members of both the County and City Managers’ Association (CCMA), the Housing Practitioner Network, Local Authority housing personnel and officials from my Department. Consultations were held with organisations working with older people and people with a disability, including the Irish Wheelchair Association, ALONE, HSE, Ataxia Ireland, the Irish Society for Autism and the National Disability Authority. The aim of the review was to spread the benefits of the schemes as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in their operation.
I intend to increase the level of funding available for the grant schemes in 2014. Details of the capital allocations will issue to local authorities very shortly.
