Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
833. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the number and cost of extensions constructed for council tenants for each local authority for the years 2019-2022. [17728/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. Extensions to provide for ground floor bathrooms and bedrooms can also be supported. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications is the responsibility of local authorities.
My Department's approach every year, in the first instance, is to allow local authorities complete works up to 65% of the previous year’s allocation in the absence of formal approval to keep this important work going. Following this, later this year, my Department will issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan, prioritise and implement the programme to carry out the varying works necessary to meet the needs of their tenants in this year. The programme is 90% funded by my Department with a 10% contribution from the local authority.
Details on the drawdown of funding for each local authority, for the period 2017-2022, which includes Extensions, is available at the following link:
Disabled Persons Grant and Improved Works in Lieu Schemes - Units Funded by the Department 2017-2022
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. Funding allocations under the 2023 Programme will be announced shortly.
