Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
205. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability, the mobility aids grant and the housing aid for older people grant in County Monaghan in each of the years 2018 to date; the number of people who received grants, and the allocation to County Monaghan, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6948/24]
View answerMy Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet 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 Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of these schemes, including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities.
Details of allocations, the number of grants paid and the amount spent by all local authorities, including for Monaghan County Council, for 2018 - 2023 are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
Exchequer funding of €74.5 million is available nationally for the scheme in 2024. In advance of formal notification of the 2024 funding allocations to local authorities, work in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability can continue as local authorities may commit up to 75% of their initial 2023 allocation in approving applications for 2024. This ensures seamless continuation of the grant scheme from year to year. I expect that the 2024 funding allocations will issue shortly to local authorities. Monaghan County Council have not yet submitted a claim for Exchequer funding for grants paid in 2024.
Details in relation to the number of applicants with a grant approval or awaiting grant payment from Monaghan County Council are not available in my Department. This information may be available directly from the local authority.
