Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 629: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are grants available from his Department to enable people who are experiencing health difficulties to build on to their private dwellings, additional facilities downstairs such as new bathroom and water closet facilities, where such facilities are located on the upper floor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5163/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme, for people with a disability, which is administered by local authorities, is intended to provide grant aid towards the adaptation or provision of accommodation to meet the needs of a person with a disability. The types of works aided include the provision of access ramps, downstairs toilet facilities, stair-lifts, accessible showers, adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access, extensions, and any other works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation needs of a person with a disability.

The effective maximum grant available under the scheme is €30,000, which may cover up to 95% of the approved cost of works. Prioritisation of eligibility is on the basis of medical and financial need with 95% of the approved cost of work available to those with annual household incomes of less than €30,000, tapering to 30% for those with annual household incomes of €54,001 to €65,000.