John Cummins (Fine Gael)
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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.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability scheme assists those in private houses to make their accommodation more suited to their needs. The overall scheme encompasses the three grants the Senator mentioned, namely: the housing adaptation grant for people with disabilities; the mobility aids grant; and the housing aid for older people grant. As the Senator will know, the scheme is means tested and operates on a sliding scale, with the highest percentage grants available to those with the lowest incomes and vice versa. The detailed administration of the scheme, including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment, is the responsibility of local authorities.

In 2022, nearly €86 million in funding was made available to facilitate the payment of more than 12,000 individual grants. Local authorities were recently informed of their allocations for 2023 under this scheme, with each local authority receiving an increase on its 2022 allocation.

Housing for All contains a commitment to a review being undertaken in respect of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs for our ageing population and those with disabilities. A report on this review has been prepared by the Department. My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, will give careful consideration to the report. A decision on the recommendations in the report will be made as soon as possible.

The Department also provides funding to local authorities under the disabled persons grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with disabilities or those in overcrowded situations.The total expenditure on this scheme was more than €17 million in 2022, facilitating more than 1,500 essential adaptations. The Department continues to support local authorities in their work in this area and funding allocations under the 2023 programme will be announced shortly.

The suite of grants available for adaptation works for both private and social housing is kept under constant review and funding allocated under the schemes is managed to ensure it is efficiently and effectively used to the greatest effect possible. As I said, the funding available for the grants is under active consideration as part of the review report.

I have listened to what the Senator has said about the fact these are vulnerable cohorts of people and that the grants do not go as far as they used to because of inflation and other factors. The Senator also has concerns around having a block grant before the summer recess. It is all about getting best value for money. I will take those comments back to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

John Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for that reply. My local authority received €1.8 million last week under the disabled persons grants scheme but I believe that is insufficient to meet the needs in my area of Waterford. I welcome the fact an announcement is imminent in regard to the social housing stock but from engaging with the housing team in Waterford, as an example, it could definitely spend an additional €1 million to €1.5 million before year-end if it got an early indication of grant funding. Given those allocations are imminent in terms of the social housing stock, there is an opportunity in this regard. As I said, because of the prudent financial management of the economy, we have additional surpluses and this area really fits the bill, given what we are looking for in terms of the spending of some of those moneys. They are one-off in nature, they are capital in nature and they are very good value for money for the State. I would like the Minister of State to take the message back to the Minister to increase the level of funding to local authorities in this important area.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I have listened to what the Senator has said and I will take his comments back to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I understand that among the areas which the review is considering are the income thresholds, the grant limits and the application of the decision-making process, including any supplementary documentation required. I understand the recommendations in the review report are being actively considered. It was helpful that the Senator made his comments today because the funding is under active consideration as part of the review report and his comments will certainly be taken on board.