Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about the €81 million that was granted to councils to support housing adaptation grants for older people and people with disabilities. These grants are important to allow people to remain living independently in their own homes as they deal with a disability, an acquired disability, old age or infirmity. I understand in the case of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council that €2.5 million was allocated for 2022. However, as of September, only €1 million has been drawn down. I will just give notice that this question is actually coming from Deputy Cormac Devlin. He is concerned about it and would appreciate if Mr. Curran could give a reaction to that. Is he happy that the full allocation will be drawn down by the end of the year?

I also want to ask about the financial contribution scheme. I do not know if Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council operates it, but Dublin City Council’s financial contribution scheme is a very valuable housing supply mechanism. It takes existing housing stock where there are elderly people living in the community who are living in a home that is beyond their needs. In return for them surrendering and selling the home back to Dublin City Council, the council increases housing stock and provides the sellers, in return for a financial contribution, with adequate purpose-built and appropriate housing. Does Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown operate the financial contribution scheme? What can Dublin City Council do to accelerate and increase it? I know there are significant waiting lists in Cabra and Drumcondra. People want to remain in the community and continue to live among the people with whom they lived all their lives, but they need city council to deliver the option to them.

In the case of St. Finbarr’s Court, two years have passed and people are scratching their heads. Two years on from the planning permission, and given that the land is owned by the city council and the site has been completely flattened and demolished, why is it taking so long for the builder to get on-site and start building?

Could our guests reply to those questions, starting with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council?