Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

It can take two or three years to get a decision on an application. If somebody has had an accident or stroke and wants to live at home again or with relatives when he or she leaves hospital, he or she should not have to wait two years to be told a grant of €20,000 will be provided. If there is a delay in processing applications, surely people can be allowed to carry out the building work and claim back the grant funding. It is rare for this to happen. It took me eight months to get money back for someone who did not realise the grant application had to be made in advance of the building work. Luckily, due to common sense on the part of the council authorities, the individual in question was awarded a grant for the work that had already been completed. However, according to the rules set down by the Government, it is not possible to do that. It is not good enough for people to have to wait two years to get an answer in the first place. People should be allowed to have the work carried out and then be able to claim the money back but currently that is not possible.

Essential repairs grants cover small building jobs such as having a window or roof fixed to better insulate a house and make it more comfortable. I object to the five-year rule governing this scheme. It is the greatest load of crap I have ever come across. It is ridiculous to write to an elderly person to inform him or her that because he or she got a grant four and a half years ago to fix a window or a door, for example, another application cannot be considered until five years have elapsed. That is absolute rubbish. If someone needs a grant for a certain purpose the application should be assessed on its merits and should not be subject to a four-year or five-year rule. That is absolutely ridiculous. It does not support people to live at home or care for the elderly in the community, far from it.

The provision of home improvement grants, home help hours or other local nursing services are important for elderly people but many of them cannot afford home maintenance or to do the little odd jobs that occur around the house from time to time. People generally have a sense of pride about their area and like to have their house looking well, properly painted and with gates and fences in good order but it is difficult to get anyone to do these small maintenance jobs. It is all very well for people who have relatives or friends who can help, but in many cases elderly people do not have anyone to help them, especially those who have moved to new areas.

Services for the elderly should be provided at an affordable rate. In County Meath, among other counties, a programme of works provides services for the elderly and although it operates on a not-for-profit basis, the charge is still €10 or €15 per hour which can amount to €50 or €60 as most jobs such as repairing a gutter or doing a painting job can take four or five hours. Elderly people cannot afford to pay these amounts. The Government must establish schemes in communities, be they voluntary or otherwise, to help elderly people who need odd jobs done. This will help people remain in their homes for longer and help them feel happy and proud to be there. People sometimes opt to leave home to go into a nursing home because they are no longer able to manage the small jobs it is necessary to do from time to time. In many cases, a little help would go a long way in terms of keeping people at home where they want to be, in their communities with their friends and neighbours. We must endeavour to do this.

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