Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

Housing grants available through local authorities, which are mainly funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, provide an important facility and incentive for people to upgrade their homes. They also provide an opportunity to provide employment in the construction sector. Works carried out under the housing grants generally use local employees and suppliers and can be in effect a local mini-stimulus package.

A revised suite of housing adaptation grant schemes was implemented in November 2007 to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability following a review of the former disabled persons, essential repairs grant schemes and special housing aid for the elderly, administered by the Health Service Executive. The revised schemes target the available resources to those in most need, streamline operational and administrative procedures and ensure equity and consistency of operation across all local authority areas.

Three new schemes were introduced. The housing adaptation grant for people with a disability, which replaced the disabled persons grant scheme. The mobility aids grant scheme which provides grants to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily but not exclusively, associated with aging. The housing aid for older people scheme which amalgamated the old essential repairs and special housing aid for the elderly schemes with the aim of improving the existing housing conditions of older people.

The revised schemes are administered by the local authorities and are funded by 80% recoupment available from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It is a matter for local authorities to provide for the remaining 20% contribution in their annual Estimates. Local authorities will be notified of their combined capital allocations immediately following the publication of the 2009 Revised Estimates. Individual capital allocations are being determined on the basis of available resources, local authority expenditure in 2008 and anticipated levels of activity in 2009. It is, therefore, important that local authorities take note of the impact of their drawdown from the previous year has on their proposed spend.

It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed towards each of the schemes from within the combined allocation notified to them by the Department and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within the allocation. In light of the high level of demand under the grant schemes, local authorities are requested to operate the schemes on a prioritised basis. Particular consideration should be given to applicants requiring adaptations to facilitate discharge from hospital or alleviate the need for hospitalisation in the future and those applicants requiring improvement works to facilitate the continuance of care in their own homes.

The total estimated demand by local authorities for the operation of the housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability in 2009 is over €140 million. However, this estimate includes applications that have been assessed as eligible, as well as applications not yet assessed and the projected intake of new applications during the year.

Funding for the schemes has been accelerating every year with expenditure increasing from some €13 million to almost €95 million between 1997 and 2008. Approximately 86,000 older people and people with a disability have been assisted in remaining in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. In many cases, the grants have prevented premature entry to residential care. Expenditure in 2008 amounted to €94.9 million with some 12,000 grants paid.

On foot of a decision taken in February 2006, it was decided to transfer the administration of the special housing aid for the elderly scheme from the Health Service Executive to the housing authorities. It arose on foot of a recommendation made in the report, Core Functions of the Health Service, which stated a more integrated service and better value for money may be achieved by transferring responsibility for the special housing aid for the elderly scheme to the local authorities, who already had responsibility for the essential repairs and disabled persons grant schemes. The scheme has been funded through a task force under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

It was agreed between the Department and the Health Service Executive that the special housing aid for the elderly scheme would be discontinued from 1 August 2008, with all claims on hand at that date to be processed by the Health Service Executive. The Department provided €14.7 million to the Health Service Executive in 2008 for the operation of the scheme and it is expected that an allocation will be made shortly in respect of remaining claims on hand. All new applications for home repairs and improvements with effect from 1 August 2008 are directed to the local authorities under the provisions of the housing aid for the elderly scheme.

To ensure the adaptation grant schemes continue to provide a seamless response to the housing needs of vulnerable groups, the Department is committed to undertaking an evaluation of the new regime following the first year of implementation. The evaluation, which has recently commenced, is being undertaken by the Centre for Housing Research. It will provide for a call for submissions from interested parties and focus groups; and interviews with housing practitioners and front line local authority officials, occupational therapists and relevant statutory agencies and non-governmental organisations. The special housing aid for the elderly task force will be also consulted. Interviews will take place with contractors in sample local authority areas. A postal questionnaire of all successful applicants of the schemes in 2008 will be followed by interviews with a sample of successful applicants and unsuccessful applicants. An analysis will be made of the take-up of grants vis-À-vis the profile of older people and people with a disability in local authority areas. A determination will be made of prioritisation systems in operation locally, and a profile will be drawn up of the nature of works and level of grant aid awarded. It is expected that a final report will be available by June 2009.

Many people in Kildare have benefited from the housing grants. The improvements brought about to their homes as a result of the investment has helped to improve their lifestyles and ensure a greater level of comfort in their homes. Given the reduced construction costs, I should also point out that the value that can be now extracted for the housing grants will be significantly enhanced over and above what could have been obtained a couple of years ago.

While I have concentrated on only one element of it, the housing Bill is a comprehensive package to deal with many issues related to housing policy. I refer to issues such as the further provisions for the functions of the housing authority to provide for the making of housing services plans and to provide for the making of an anti-social behaviour strategy. I commend the Bill to the House.

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