The disabled persons grant scheme is administered by the local authorities in accordance with the legal framework laid down in section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979 and statutory regulations made under that Act. Under the regulations, there is no legal bar to the payment of a second disabled persons grant in respect of a household, either in a situation where there is more than one disabled member or where the needs of a person with a disability change over time. Generally, however, the need for grants of this nature should not occur if the local authority and the applicant ensure that the original grant aided works are properly executed and appropriate to the long-term needs of the applicant.
In the case of a private house, the grant may amount to 90% of the cost of the work and, generally, local authorities limit their maximum grant to £16,000. In the case of a local authority house, the grant covers the full cost of the works. My Department recoups to local authorities two thirds of their grant expenditure up to a maximum recoupment of £10,666 per case.
