Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am here in my capacity as a Minister of State in the Government but I am also a Deputy who does constituency work. I know the value of housing adaptation grants to older people in Kildare South as much as the Senator knows their value in Louth. The Senator is dead right that it is a common sense approach as well as the right thing to do. When we get older, we all want assistance to be able to stay in our own homes. That is where our family members can spend the most time with us. It is where we can have the best quality of life. It is also keeping pressure off our acute system and nursing homes. It is the right thing to do. I will bring back to the Department the points the Senator has raised about her constituents in the Louth area. She has clearly articulated her points.

The funding available for grants in 2023 has increased by almost €2 million above the original 2022 provision to a total of over €83 million. Given the real benefits of these schemes, our objective is to continue to provide further increases in overall funding every year as part of the Estimates process. As I outlined previously, we also have the review report. We will keep a close eye on this matter and I will bring back to the Department the points the Senator has raised.