John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. She has had a busy morning filling in for her ministerial colleagues.

I am sure that the Minister of State will agree with me that the housing adaptation grants that are issued by local authorities to older persons and those with disabilities is some of the best value to be had for the money the State spends each year. Last week, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage issued grant funding of €66.5 million to the 31 local authorities. Local authorities will add 20% funding from their own resources to that, which means that over €83 million will be spent this year on disabled persons grants to assist more than 12,000 older persons and those with disabilities to adapt their homes to meet their needs.

From dealing with people on a daily basis at my offices, which are located in Dungarvan and Waterford city, I am ware that those who avail of these grants find them extremely beneficial in the context of making their homes more suitable and comfortable to live in. There are three grants. The housing aid for older persons provides up to 95% of the grant to owner-occupied homes for people aged over 66 years to cover costs of up to €8,000 for necessary improvements like rewiring, central heating and the replacement of boilers. There is the mobility aid grant that provides 100% support of up to €6,000 to address mobility problems, with the installation of rails, ramps, stairs, stairlifts and level-access showers. There is also the housing adaptation grant for people with disabilities, which provides up to 95% of the costs and up to €30,000 for works to adapt a home, to suit the needs of a person with a disability, by the installation of a downstairs toilet, wheelchair adaptation or an extension to the property.

The issue is that these grant amounts do not go far as they once did because of the significant rise in construction inflation that we have experienced over the last 12 to 18 months. Such a situation is very problematic for anyone who has been approved for grant support because they must often supply the money to cover the difference between the grant that is approved for them and the actual cost of the work. The people in question are vulnerable members of society. The grant amounts need to be changed to reflect inflation in the construction sector. The Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, is examining this matter. I have had several meetings with him in respect of it. I hope that the grant amounts will be changed. I am not sure whether the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, can confirm any grant increases this morning. The grants must be increased.

We also have to increase the block grant that is provided to local authorities. If we just increase the grant amounts without increasing the block grant, all that will happen is that fewer people will be able to avail of these essential grants. In light of the significant surpluses that are running due to the extremely prudent management of the economy, I would like local authorities to be given a block grant of €3 million or €4 million before the summer recess because this would allow them to spend money in the second half of the year and clear many of the waiting lists relating to the people with disabilities and older persons who avail of these grants.