Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021
340. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures which can be taken by an applicant for a grant for housing adaptation that is needed due to the fact the applicant has recently been diagnosed with motor neuron disease and can no longer work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44070/21]
View answerMy Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities.
The framework for the operation of the scheme is laid down in statutory regulations, namely the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability) Regulations 2007, and the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.
The regulations define household income for the purposes of the means test as the combined annual gross income in the previous tax year of both the owner of any property the subject of an application pursuant to these Regulations, together with that of his or her spouse and each member of the household in full-time occupation of the house where such a member is aged 18 years or more, or, where he or she is engaged in full-time third level education, is aged 23 years or more.
The regulations do not allow for any discretion on the tax year assessed for the purposes of the means test. Local authorities, in administering the grant schemes, should always work with qualifying applicants to ensure they get the most beneficial outcome possible under the terms of the schemes.
