Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
621. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding is available and if he plans to introduce a scheme similar to the fair deal scheme that would provide financial assistance to the elderly who wish to remain living in their own homes or with family rather than go into full-time care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14173/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a number of key principles underpinning Government policy on housing for older people. These include putting in place measures to ensure that sustainable housing is provided in the right location to enable people to age in the community; to design housing and the environment in accordance with the principles of sustainable lifetime housing; to promote the use of assistive technology and provide grant assistance to support people to live independently; to give adequate consideration to the need for social connectedness in devising policy; and to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to achieve the policy objectives.
The objective of enabling older persons to remain in their own homes is being assisted through my Department's funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which assists people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants includes the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by the Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of each local authority.
In addition to the above, funding is also provided from my Department for adaptations and extensions to existing social housing stock to meet the specific needs of the local authority tenants with a 10% contribution required from the local authority.
The detailed administration of these schemes, including the application, assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants under the various measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, is currently implementing the 40 actions recommended for implementation under the Housing Options for our Ageing Population Joint Policy Statement, including supporting housing/housing with care so that older people have a wider range of housing options and choices available to them. An Implementation Group with an independent Chair is overseeing the development of the policy framework and has published two progress reports to date.
I have no plans to introduce a scheme similar to the Fair Deal to assist older persons to remain in their own homes.
