Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree that the grants have been good and widely availed of but times have surpassed them. Due to increased energy, material and labour costs, people cannot get the work done within the schemes. The eligibility is also too low in the first instance - it has not moved on in 13 years, as I said.

Ireland is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which places a serious onus on its signatories to fully recognise equal rights for all persons with disabilities to live in the community and have equal choices to others. We have obligations under that convention. I understand the crisis in housing but this is an area where we must keep people in their houses and out of nursing homes and hospitals. We must keep them happier in their homes and nearer to neighbours, friends and family.

All we want is a tweaking of the scheme because it has not been tweaked in 13 years. The eligibility levels have not increased, first of all, to avail of it, and then the amounts granted and matching are nowhere near catching up to where they should be. There are huge shortfalls of perhaps, €10,000, €12,000 or €15,000. Quite frankly, people with disabilities and elderly people cannot get that money.

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