Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputies O'Dea and O'Rourke on bringing forward this Bill. As politicians, many of us in this House have been involved in local authorities at one time or another. We are very much aware of the works that are needed to help and support elderly people in their homes. Those who apply for this type of grant have often suffered some medical event and are in hospital. They need to get out and, as colleagues know, everybody wants to live in their own home. That is where they want to be. This Bill will ensure that decisions on applications for a housing adaptation grant are made within a month of an application being submitted. As was said earlier, the works involved do not cost a fortune. The maximum grant is €30,000 but in most cases €4,000 or €5,000 would make all the difference to the applicant. It may allow people to come home or to have a level access shower or whatever they need in their homes. It is, therefore, very important to them.

Sligo County Council processed a significant number of grants last year. This year, the council made funds available in its budget for 2019 but unfortunately the allocation to the council was cut by €200,000. Many people will be left in hospital because a grant is not available. In April 2019, the HSE confirmed that 620 patients are in hospitals because of delayed discharges. These are people who are medically fit and would be ready to go home if their homes were suitable. The current approach is penny wise and pound foolish. It is crucial that these grants are made available quickly because waiting for the outcome for two or three months holds up a bed in a hospital or somewhere else.

Housing aid for the elderly is another issue involving Sligo County Council. For the past 18 months, except in the case of a category one application, which doctors are very reluctant to approve, no grant has been available. Some people in Sligo have not been able to avail of a grant for 18 months. These are important grants because they provide funds to fix a leaking roof, broken windows and other repairs needed to secure a house and make it suitable for people to live in comfortably. Will the Minister of State address this issue because it is very unfair?

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