Housing Adaptation Grant

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2016

Thursday, 16 June 2016

Questions (139)

Martin Heydon

Question:

139. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the rules of the housing adaption grants for persons with a disability, as administered by local authorities (details supplied), to extend their application to persons with disabilities which are not physical, but which require alterations to homes, to make them safer and more suitable for the disabled person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16544/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department funds a range of housing supports for persons with a disability, living in both privately owned housing and local authority housing. The Disabled Person Grant Scheme provides funds to local authorities to undertake adaptations and extensions to homes to meet the needs of local authority tenants with a disability, or to address serious overcrowding. The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for Older People and People with a Disability is also delivered by local authorities with funding from my Department. It assists people with a disability in private houses to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. There are no restrictions on the type of disability covered by the schemes and the administration of the available funding is a matter for the local authorities based on their assessment of priority and need at the time.