Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 July 2015

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Questions (230)

Shane Ross

Question:

230. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider increasing the level of funding under the housing adaptation grant for people living with a disability to complete all 106 houses on the waiting list of Cork City Council for works to adapt their homes at an approximate cost of €4.3 million; if he is aware that all 106 houses are in urgent need of adaptation, with some waiting in excess of eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27923/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department provides funding to local authorities for various social housing supports, including for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding provided by my Department meets 90% of the cost of the works, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%.

In May I announced funding of €11m for these local authority house adaptations and extensions. Cork City Council received an allocation of Exchequer funding of € 554,019, a significant increase on the equivalent allocation in 2014 of € 361,204 . The administration of this funding locally is a matter for each local authority, including decisions in relation to the projects to be implemented.