Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 October 2014
212. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reverse the budget reductions and changes to the rules related to the housing adaption scheme. [38480/14]
View answerUnder the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, every local authority received increased funding for 2014 compared to the 2013 allocations. An allocation to local authorities of €38.4m for 2014 was made for these grants on 16 January 2014.
Some changes to the terms and conditions governing these schemes were introduced following a review in 2013 by a group established by my Department, with the objective of ensuring that the benefits of the schemes were spread as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in their operation. The group included members of the Housing Practitioner Network, the County and City Managers’ Association, Local Authority housing personnel and my Department and it consulted with organisations working with older persons and persons with a disability. I have no plans at present to introduce further changes to the schemes.
