Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 May 2025
20. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding will be provided to local authorities in 2025 to cover the additional applications for housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23493/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra21. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated for housing adaptation grants in Louth from 2020 to 2024, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24599/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs.
The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are now 85% funded from the Exchequer, with a 15% contribution from the resources of the local authority under the revised scheme which commenced from 1 December 2024. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.
Budget 2025 provided for an increase of €25m in the funding provision for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, with almost €100 million allocated for 2025. Local authorities were recently informed of their 2025 allocations with each local authority receiving an increase on the 2024 allocation, continuing the year on year increases since 2014. This increase will ensure that the grants remain fit for purpose for older and disabled people.
My Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of available funding. This means that any underspends that arise on the part of any local authority can be redistributed to other authorities which have high levels of grant activity and the Department makes every effort to redistribute such funding throughout the year.
My Department advises local authorities annually that, as far as practicable, a percentage of the allocation under the schemes should be ring fenced in respect of any emergency applications which might arise under these schemes during the course of the year. Consequently, all local authorities manage their schemes to ensure access to the grants programme is maintained to the extent possible throughout the year on a priority basis.
My Department allocated a total of €8.6 million to Louth County Council for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme over the 5 year period from 2020 to 2024. Louth County Council has now received notification of their Exchequer allocation for 2025 which amounts to almost €2.7 million and is an increase of 36% on 2024.
Since the launch of the scheme in November 2007, significantly increased levels of activity continue to be experienced by local authorities with over 165,000 claims being paid to older people and disabled people. This has facilitated those applicants to remain in their own homes and communities, and in many cases preventing premature entry to residential care.
The funding available for these grants in 2025 has been substantially increased on the 2024 provision, further supporting local authorities. Given the real benefits of these Schemes, my objective it to continue to provide further increases in overall funding every year as part of the annual estimates and budgetary process.
