Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
229. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimate of the respective cost in 2022 of adjusting the income criteria applying to each of the housing adaptation grants for every €1,000 increase in the income criteria. [35691/21]
View answer230. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the respective cost in 2022 of adjusting the income criteria applying to each of the housing adaptation grants for every €1,000 increase in the maximum grant amount available under the scheme; and when the last increase occurred under each of the schemes. [35692/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.
My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants in respect of private houses. There are three separate grants available, including the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People grant, with responsibility for the apportionment between them being a matter for each local authority. Any increase in the existing grant limits and income thresholds would have to be considered in the context of the full suite of grants.
The terms and conditions governing the grants were examined in 2013 by a review group that included representatives of grant beneficiaries and the local authorities. They considered how the benefits of the grants could be spread as widely as possible and to achieve fairness and value for money in the grants process. Arising from the recommendations of the review group, the income requirements, eligibility and maximum grant were revised in 2014 to focus the grants towards those with the greatest need.
My Department has committed to beginning a review this year of the means test criteria and maximum grant limits applicable to the housing adaptation grants.
Funding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. This funding has increased year on year since 2014. As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to this funding in future years in line with the Programme for Government commitments and the Policy Statement on Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, which is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea33c1-housing-options-for-our-ageing-population-policy-statement/.
