Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
813. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget available for housing adaptation grants in 2022; the amount that has been spent to date; the number of homes that are expected to benefit in 2022; the estimated cost of increasing the level of grants by 5% or 10%; the estimated cost of linking increases in grant limits to construction inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41685/22]
View answer814. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of housing adaptation grants that will be awarded in 2023; the additional cost to his Department of ensuring that all homes progressed for adaptation are simultaneously retrofitted at the same time to a minimum B2 BER standard in which the State picks up the entire cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41686/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 813 and 814 together.
My Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants Scheme to carry out works on local authority owned social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or relieve overcrowding. The programme is 90% funded by the Department with a 10% contribution from the Local Authority.
My Department also 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, each of which are 80% funded by my Department with a 20% contribution from local authorities.
The detailed administration of both schemes, including assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications is the responsibility of local authorities.
Exchequer funding to the value of €23.6 million has been allocated in 2022 for the Disabled Persons Grant scheme. A 5% increase on the 2022 provision of €23.6 million would amount to an additional €1.18 million in Exchequer funding and a 10% increase would amount to an additional €2.36 million.
Work in relation to the 2022 programme is underway but it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2022 output will be available early in 2023.
Exchequer funding of €65 million is also available nationally in 2022 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme. The 2022 funding allocation for all local authorities is also available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/32a48-improved-homes-for-older-people-and-those-with-a-disability-as-ministers-obrien-and-burke-announce-over-80m-in-funding/
A total of almost €28 million in Exchequer funding has been spent to date in 2022 facilitating the payment of over 5,000 grants which is expected to benefit up to 10,700 households. A 5% increase on the 2022 provision of €65 million would amount to an additional €3.25 million in Exchequer funding and a 10% increase would amount to an additional €6.5 million.
A review of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability currently underway will have regard to, inter alia, any relevant increases in the broader economy as appropriate. The review is to be completed by the end of 2022.
My Department provides funding for energy upgrades on local authority owned properties under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme. It is a matter for each local authority to select the appropriate dwelling based on their target number of units and available budget. The funding of the retrofit of private households is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
