Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Housing Grants.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

781 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the assistance and grant aid available to a family purchasing a new 250,000 specially adapted dwelling unit for a 40 year old physically disabled person to live alone; if a 20,000 conversion grant will be made available; if the family will be considered to be a voluntary body for grant purposes; the criteria for such a body; the minimum number of units permissible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2282/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The disabled persons grant scheme is administered by 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 scheme, local authorities may pay a grant for the provision of additional accommodation or necessary works of adaptation to an existing house to meet the needs of a disabled member of the household or in respect of a new house which has been specifically adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person.

I have improved the terms and conditions of the disabled persons grant scheme on three occasions since 1997 with the effective maximum grant of 20,320 for adaptation works to an existing house now double its 1997 level. I have also introduced an effective maximum grant of 12,700, compared to a previous maximum of 3,809, towards the purchase of a new house specially adapted for a disabled person. The somewhat lower maximum grant available for new house works reflects the generally greater cost of adapting an existing house compared to a new house to provide for the needs of a disabled person.

Bodies which may be considered for approved status as a voluntary housing body include limited companies formed by guarantee of their members and without shareholders and registered under the Companies Acts 1963-1990, societies registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1893-1978 and trusts incorporated under the Charities Acts. To qualify for approved status, a body must have as an objective the provision of housing, the relief of housing need or poverty or hardship. A company or society must have provisions in its memorandum of association or registered rules, as the case may be, prohibiting the distribution of any surplus, profit, bonus or dividend to members and requiring that the assets of the body be applied solely towards its objectives. Voluntary housing projects have no maximum or minimum unit requirements.

Applications for approval must be supported by the memorandum and articles of association, rules or the constitution of the body seeking approval together with a copy of its certificate of incorporation or registration, information on its present financial position, a description of its activities, plans and programme, the names and addresses of its officers and of the members of its governing body or board of directors, the address of its registered office and the address of its secretary, if different from the registered office.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

782 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the voluntary bodies grant aided in recent years to provide dwelling units in the Dublin area for physically disabled adults; and the bodies which currently exist and are open to accommodation requests. [2284/02]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Since 1997 the following approved voluntary bodies have been assisted in the provision of dwelling units for disabled adults in the Dublin area: Cheshire Foundation of Ireland Ltd, Interaid, National Association of Housing for Visually Impaired Ltd, Aspire, St. Michael's House and Sue Ryder Foundation (IRL) Limited. I understand from the local authorities who are responsible for the operation of the voluntary housing schemes in the Dublin area that those voluntary bodies are still active together with a number of others which also cater for the housing needs of disabled persons, for example, Newgrove, Sunbeam House. Enquiries regarding the availability of accommodation should be made to the relevant local authority or to the voluntary body.