Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
356. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the number of grants issued by local authorities under each of the grants for older people, housing aid, mobility aid and adaptation grant in each of the past five years; and whether he has information on the extent of a waiting list for these schemes. [17477/24]
View answer363. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the rules surrounding the housing adaptation grant (details supplied) will be amended so that an invalidity pension is not included in the means test for adapting a home for disabled access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17585/24]
View answer375. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the review of the housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability. [17874/24]
View answer380. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he agrees that local authorities need greater discretion when deciding on the housing adaptation grant aid for elderly and disabled people given the increased rate of building inflation over the past two years; and if he agrees the grant amount should be increased by 50%. [17992/24]
View answer381. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he agrees that the six-month timeframe allowed to carry out approved works under the housing adaptation grant scheme for the elderly and disabled is too tight; and if he agrees that it should be increased to 12 months in order to counter weather issues, availability of contractors and other issues. [17993/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 363, 375, 380 and 381 together.
My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to administer 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. My Department engages regularly with local authorities on the effective and efficient administration of the scheme to ensure that all applications are dealt with in accordance with Departmental guidelines.
Details of allocations, the number of grants paid and the amount spent by all local authorities in the past five years are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/ga/bailiuchan/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/
My Department does not hold collated data in respect of applications approved by local authorities or any backlogs which cannot be met from existing funding. This information may be available directly from the local authorities.
The schemes are means tested and operate on a sliding scale with the highest percentage grants available to those with the lowest incomes and vice versa. A number of payments from the Department of Social Protection are disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Typically these payments are paid in respect of individuals who are either caring or financially supporting a third party, for example a child, a relative with an enduring impairment or a child in foster care. Specific payments related to basic needs such as fuel allowance etc. are also disregarded.
These disregards are designed to ensure that the provision of financial assistance for living costs or care do not disadvantage an individual applying for grant assistance under the scheme. Payments such as Disability Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit or Invalidity Pension are not disregarded as they are income subsidies paid directly to an individual, and are therefore assessed as income under the means test in line with the Regulations.
Applicants are encouraged to carry out the works as quickly as possible following grant approval. In general, works should be completed within six months following written approval from the local authority. In cases where works are not completed within six months following approval, local authorities should examine each case individually and, if necessary, offer an appropriate time extension for the completion of works.
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. 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.
