Housing Grant Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2018

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Questions (124)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

124. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to increase funding for housing grants provided by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47154/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

For 2019, an increased total of €71.25 million will be provided for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. This is an 8% increase on the funding provided in 2018 and will enable up to 11,800 home adaptations to be undertaken.

Funding for these schemes has been increasing year on year since 2014, facilitating people with disabilities and older people to continue to live in their own homes. In addition to annual increases since 2014, my Department continues to work closely with local authorities throughout each year, to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. This allows any underspends to be redistributed to local authorities with high levels of grant activity who seek additional funding.