Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2019
697. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will review the maximum grants available under the housing aid for older people grant, mobility aids grant and housing adaptation grant in view of the significant increases in construction costs and the cost of materials in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27855/19]
View answerThe maximum grant amounts payable under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme were reviewed in 2013 and I have no plans at this point for a further review. The average individual amount paid under this scheme is currently lower than the maximum permitted and the current arrangement seeks to spread the benefits of the available funding to a higher number of recipients. My main focus in respect of these grants is increasing the funding, with €71.25 million available nationally in 2019, an increase of some 8% on the 2018 allocation.
I am conscious of the benefit accruing from these grants, particularly in terms of facilitating older people and people with a disability, to remain living independently in their own homes. This is recognised in the Programme for Government and as a consequence, funding has been increasing year on year since 2014. As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given in future years to increasing further the funding for these grants in line with both Rebuilding Ireland and the Government's Policy Statement on Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, which is available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/housingoptionsforanageingpopulationeng_web.pdf.
