Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
182. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the housing adaptation grant for older people can be used to rehabilitate a sewage system in a single house as there is no other option to remedy the issue. [40793/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist eligible people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. 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). A means test applies to each grant scheme.
The Housing Aid for Older People scheme provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant qualifying works comprise essential works which make a property habitable including structural repairs or improvements, upgrade to electrical wiring, repair or replacement of windows and doors, provision of heating, water or sanitary services. The detailed administration of the schemes is the responsibility of the local authorities, therefore the qualifying works is a matter for consideration and decision on a case-by-case basis by the local authority within the scope of the grant scheme.
Further details on these schemes are available on my Department's website at the following link:www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/
My Department’s Rural Water Programme makes provision for grant assistance to householders in carrying out remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or replacement of, a domestic waste water treatment systems (septic tanks) where these are located in areas specifically prioritised for environmental protection or where identified as requiring action under a national inspection plan.
Further information can be obtained from the local authorities who are responsible for the day to day administration of these grants or on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/6cc1e-domestic-waste-water-treatment-systems-septic-tanks/
