Mr. Patrick O'Sullivan:

The Deputy had a number of questions. His first question had regard to grants. For the benefit of all the members, I will mention that more than €86 million was spent on grants last year. Ultimately, almost 12,500 grants were delivered to individuals. I do not have the figures for Dublin in front of me but they are publicly available on our website. That is a significant investment and it will be followed up this year with further investment. Some €83 million has been set aside for this year.

As regards the threshold for disability in the context of the grants, there is provision for prioritisation. First priority is given to those who are terminally ill or who are mainly dependent on a family carer. That is quite clear. The adaptations help such people to leave hospital or residential care. Second priority is given to people who are somewhat more mobile but who need access to washing facilities or toilet facilities suited to a disabled person and whose ability to function independently would be diminished without such adaptations. Our third priority is people who are largely independent but who need special facilities to improve their quality of life, such as a bedroom or living space. The local authorities have clear thresholds for priority when looking at applications. They give applicants a fair assessment in that regard.

As regards the DPOs, it is important to say that, in the context of the development of the strategy and as the Deputy will be aware from reading the strategy itself, there was a very high level of deep engagement with DPOs because of their lived experience. Those representations informed the themes and approach of the strategy. The DPOs continue to engage. I mentioned earlier that we now have a national implementation steering group in operation implementing the strategy. The primary four categories are all represented around that table. They are engaging with us, the HSE, the local authorities and the approved housing bodies. The group is chaired by the Housing Agency and we participate in it. There will be a deep level of ongoing engagement as we implement the strategy over the next five years. The DPOs are fully integrated into that process.

I spoke earlier about homelessness and the challenge in that regard. In my opening address, I mentioned how we work with the HSE in the context of funding mental health tenancy sustainment officers. That is important so that people who have been provided with a housing allocation can maintain their tenancies and, if they have been taken out of homelessness, not revert back into it. We are there to provide that wraparound service and support them. That investment is there. We recognise that it is a challenge. It appears that mental health is one of the defining factors in people being challenged by homelessness. We are working to assist in that regard.

The Deputy mentioned calling the Government to account. The situation is quite the opposite. The Ministers call us to account on a daily basis with regard to ensuring that allocations are spent, recognising that there can be savings and that there may be some delays. For example, we were able to achieve savings in respect of housing and disability grants last year. This funding was therefore spent very effectively right across the country. Savings can be a good thing where they can be redistributed within the Vote and spent within a good area, particularly at the local level for people requiring these housing adaptation grants. As I mentioned, there a review of housing grants is ongoing. The report is with the Minister, who is giving it very careful consideration.

I understand that. It has been almost ten years since the housing adaptation grants were reviewed. We have to look at the thresholds, which is being done, and the level of the grant. There is no doubt about that. I would expect the Minister will make advances shortly. The work is done, however. It must now give careful consideration to ensure the funding is supporting it.