Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 512: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position whereby a person applies to their local authority for a disabled person's grant to install heating in their home and is informed that this work cannot be grant aided under the scheme unless it is carried out with other major works; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many ill and elderly persons who own their own homes are not in a position to meet the cost of such work; if he proposes to put in place another scheme to grant aid the installation of heating; and if he will clarify the position in relation to existing applicants under this scheme who applied, in some cases, over one year ago, for grant aid to install heating and who have now been informed that they cannot be approved. [14358/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The provision of appropriate heating systems is eligible for funding under both the disabled person's and essential repairs grant schemes. Decisions on the type and extent of work which may be grant aided in individual cases are matters for the local authorities who are responsible for the administration of the schemes.

Under the terms of the special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is operated by the Health Service Executive, provision of a suitable heating system appropriate to the needs of the elderly person in the context of the other improvements and repair works to a dwelling may also be funded. In addition, in July 2004, my Department introduced a new central heating programme to assist local authorities in providing central heating facilities in their rented dwelling which lack them. The scheme has been extended for a further period in 2005.

The disabled person's grant scheme, like other housing grant schemes operated by my Department, is intended to assist persons in the provision of additional accommodation or in carrying out works of adaptation, but is not designed to cover the full cost of works for all applicants. Local authorities may provide reconstruction loans to qualified applicants who have difficulty in obtaining finance to meet the balance of the cost.

The administration of the disabled person's grant scheme is a matter for the local authorities within the framework laid down in statutory regulations which, as far as practicable, is designed to give an appropriate level of flexibility at local level. The basic requirements for obtaining a disabled person's grant are that the work for which it is sought is, in the opinion of the local authority, reasonably necessary for the purpose of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a disabled member of the household and that the terms of the disabled person's grant scheme, as adopted by the local authority, are complied with.