John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Tully for raising this important matter and allowing me the opportunity to provide an update to the House. My Department provides funding to local authorities under the housing adaptation grants for older people and disabled people scheme to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs.The suite of grants includes the housing adaptation grant for disabled people, the mobility aids grant and the housing aid for older persons grant, which are now 85% funded from the Exchequer, with a 15% contribution from the resources of the local authority, under the revised scheme which commenced from 1 December of last year. The detailed administration of these schemes, including assessment, approval, prioritisation and allocation, is a responsibility of local authorities.

In 2024, Exchequer funding of €74.5 million was initially allocated. Additional funding was secured for the scheme through a Supplementary Estimate of €8 million, resulting in Exchequer funding of €82.6 million overall. Over €103 million was allocated when this was including the local authority contribution, which was 20%, facilitating the payment of more than 15,000 grant claims. The Exchequer funding available for these grants in 2025 has been increased substantially by €25 million to €99.5 million, or over €117 million when accounting for the local authority contribution, continuing the year-on-year increases in funding that have occurred since 2014.

Local authorities were recently informed of their 2025 allocations, with each local authority receiving a substantial increase on the 2024 allocation. Cavan County Council received an Exchequer allocation of €1.86 million for 2025, an increase of 36% on the initial allocation of €1.37 million for 2024. This is actually €2.19 million when the council contribution is included.

In 2024, the county council received an allocation of €1.7 million, comprising €1.37 million funding and over €300,000 to be funded from the local authority's own resources. An additional allocation of €430,000 was allocated to Cavan County Council from the Supplementary Estimate, totalling an Exchequer spend of €1.8 million, or €2.26 million when including the local authority contribution.

The Department advises local authorities annually that, as far as practicable, a percentage of the allocation under the schemes should be ring-fenced in respect of any emergency applications that might arise under these schemes during the course of the year. Consequently, all local authorities manage their schemes to ensure access to the grants programme is maintained to the greatest extent possible throughout the year on a priority basis. I welcome the fact Cavan County Council continues to proactively prioritise applicants most in need, namely, those priority one applicants, such as individuals who are terminally ill, are primarily dependent on family or a carer, or where home adaptations would support them leaving hospital or residential care.

I acknowledge the representations made by Senator Tully with regard to her local authority in Cavan. As a Government, we are committed to supporting local authorities throughout the year in managing their allocations, as we have done every year to date.