Vol. 533 No. 3
221 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria used by health boards or medical officers throughout the country when determining the qualifying conditions under the disabled persons grant scheme. [9047/01]
222 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of need in relation to the disabled persons grant scheme which denotes high and low priority cases as determined by the medical officer representing the health board. [9048/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.
The provision of housing modification grants for people with physical disabilities is a matter for the Department of the Environment and Local Government and they are provided through the relevant local authority. The criteria for this scheme are set out in the Department of the Environment and Local Government's Housing (Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant) Regulations, 1993.
The housing modifications or adaptations required vary according to the level of disability involved in each particular case. It is, therefore, necessary for a trained professional, namely an occupational therapist, to identify the most suitable modifications which will allow the individual to function adequately within the home. Without these modifications, some everyday functions may be difficult or impossible to carry out due to the nature of the particular disability. Health boards are involved with these grants to the extent that an assessment of the individual case must be carried out by an occupational therapist from the health board, in order for the grant to be approved.
Occupational therapists generally carry out these assessments in the order in which they are referred from the local authority. However, I understand that in more urgent cases, certain assessments will be given priority as directed by the local authority.
