Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 March 2014
35. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will overturn the decision to have all decisions regarding local authority provision of works for the disabled and the elderly referred to his Department. [11774/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 58 of the Housing Act 1996, the management and maintenance of the local authority social housing stock, including the carrying out of planned maintenance and the provision of minor adaptation works to meet the needs of tenants, is a matter for individual authorities.
My Department provides funding to local authorities for a range of measures to improve the quality and standard of the social housing stock, including estate–wide remedial works, the regeneration of disadvantaged social housing estates and flat complexes and the provision of extensions for persons with a disability. In the case of extensions and adaptations to the social housing stock, local authorities have been advised that funding for these works in 2014 will be considered on a case by case basis.
In the case of privately owned properties, funding is provided under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities. Grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Three separate schemes are available, the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme:
(i) Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (HAG ) which assists people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. Grants for up to €30,000 are available for works including the provision of access ramps, stair lifts, accessible toilet and shower facilities, wheelchair access and extensions,
(ii) the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (MAG) is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works,
(iii) the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP) provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting etc.
The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants under the various grant measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
