Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
608. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the report reviewing housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability; to provide a date by which we can expect the said report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13773/24]
View answer621. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider revising the maximum grant cap allowed with respect to housing adaptation grants in order to keep pace with the increases in building costs and construction inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13959/24]
View answer622. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided by his Department for housing adaptation grants to each local authority for 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13960/24]
View answer693. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the criteria for housing adaption grants in order that a change of circumstances that is, a reduction in earnings, can be taken into consideration rather than the earnings of the previous calendar year. [15049/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 608, 621, 622 and 693 together.
My 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 for 2023 are available on my Department's website at the following link:
gov - Other local authority housing scheme statistics (www.gov.ie)
Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. The review was informed by engagement with external stakeholders, including the Department of Health, the HSE, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Written submissions were also invited and considered as part of this process. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds that apply and the grant limits.
On foot of my consideration of the Review report, my Department shared the report and supplementary analysis with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and is engaging with that Department on the recommendations in the report with a view to bringing forward amendments to the relevant Regulations governing the schemes as soon as possible.
