Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

We really have to give consideration to housing adaptation grants and to look at them properly. We know they have been reviewed. Both the thresholds and the amounts paid have been increased but this does not cover the cost of building. I am talking in particular about those who fall into disability, whether down to old age, accidents, or children coming of age and needing a greater level of supports. We have all had these sorts of issues and occasionally got them across the line, but every year we have a case where the local authority runs out of funding. It stops taking applications and we all try to make representations on behalf of those worst cases. We need to get a system that works.

We still need to update the situation in relation to CAS funding as regards disabilities. I have spoken to the Taoiseach previously about St. John of God approved housing body not being able to draw down the money it could previously. While there have been solutions to some of the issues, we need that dealt with.

When are we to see the rural one-off housing review report, which last summer was with the Attorney General, because we know the issues that exist in rural areas in relation to people not being able to get planning permission for necessary housing?

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