Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Gould for bringing forward this question. My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability which supports older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their homes to meet their needs. Housing for All commits to reviewing the grants scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. The review was informed by engagement with external stakeholders including the Department of Health, the HSE, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Written submissions were also invited and considered as part of this process. Among the areas which the review considered are income thresholds, the grant limits, the application and the decision-making processes, including the supplementary documentation required. I received the review just recently on coming into my delegated powers and I am giving it careful, detailed and timely consideration. I will make a decision on the recommendations in the report as soon as possible. My main focus in respect of these grants is in seeking to spread their benefit by further increasing the funding that is available at national level including wider access to funding at the local level. The total funding available for the suite of housing adaptation grants has increased to more than €83 million for 2023 continuing the year-on-year increase since 2014 for these extremely important grants. This year’s allocation will build on the success of last year where we exceeded the number of home adaptations initially targeted.

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