Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
946. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what grant supports are available to facilitate the construction of an extension to a family home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38923/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding for the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, which is a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability.
These schemes cover works reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of applicants, including extensions. The detailed administration of the grants, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
Funding is also provided 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.
This programme also extends to Improvement Works in Lieu which allows works to be carried out on a privately owned house on the basis that this house will be occupied by someone on the social housing list and accepting this grant results in their removal from the list or someone who will return their social house to the local authority in lieu of the works being done on the private house which they will occupy.
The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications is the responsibility of local authorities
Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
Further information is available from the Vacant Homes Officer in the relevant Local Authority.
