Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
356. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail what funding heads A14 and A18 within his Department's annual voted expenditure related to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25558/23]
View answerThe Gross Total allocations for my Department in 2023 is set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and ‘Reform (DPENDR) and is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2023.
The Exchequer allocation for Subhead A.18 is for Private Housing Grants with capital funding of €67 million available in 2023. Subhead A.18 is primarily for the provision of payment to local authorities for expenditure incurred on the suite of Housing Adaptation grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (max grant €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (max grant €6,000) and the Housing Aid for Older People (max grant €8,000). The grants are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
Subhead A.18 also makes provision for the Thatch Grants towards renewing or repairing the thatch of existing thatched houses that are structurally sound, are 10 or more years old and will be used on completion of the approved works as a normal place of residence. A grant of up to €3,810 or two thirds of the approved cost (whichever lesser) may be payable towards necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of houses. A higher grant (up to €5,714) may be payable for houses on specified Islands. For owners of qualifying thatch properties, who are also Medical Card holders, the maximum grant available is €6,350, or up to 80% of the approved cost (€8,252 for Islands).
In addition, legacy schemes (such as the 1985 House Improvement Grants scheme and the New House Grant Scheme) may also be funded from the subhead in the event any payments arise for outstanding applications not previously progressed by an applicant.
The Exchequer allocation for Subead A.14 is for Housing for People with a Disability and Older People policy advancement with current funding of €1.8 million and capital funding of €1.3 million available in 2023. The Subhead provision primarily supports the Government’s National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 and the 2019 Housing Options for our Ageing Population joint policy statement which now operates within the framework of Housing for All.
