Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. On housing adaptations grants, I welcome the additional funding there. It is very much needed and these grants are very important. Fewer grants have been awarded in 2024 than in 2010. Since 2010, there has been a huge growth of almost 300,000 in our population in terms of people aged 65 years and older. There is a huge need here. ALONE put in freedom of information requests on waiting lists in local authorities and they showed thousands of people across the country are on those lists. Some local authorities do not maintain formal waiting lists. This is beneficial in adapting our housing stock, as well as for the individuals who need them and cannot be left waiting, as I am sure the Minister knows and understands. While the extra funding is welcome, why have we not been able to get the amount of money needed for the housing adaptation grants? This comes up across the country for political representatives across different parties.