James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1421: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason no grant aid is given by local authorities for the provision of granny flats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29500/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government has undertaken a broad range of actions as part of a strategic response to enhance the range of housing supports and services available to the disadvantaged and vulnerable in society, including older people and people with a disability. These actions range from the introduction of better-targeted financial supports to the development of inter-agency protocols to ensure coordinated service delivery at local level where there is a care dimension in association with meeting housing need.

The specific accommodation needs of older people can be met through a wide range of available supports. These include local authority housing, voluntary and cooperative housing and the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, introduced in November 2007, which provides targeted support to assist older people in carrying out necessary repairs and improvements to their homes.

In addition, a cross-departmental team on sheltered housing for older people, chaired by my Department, was established in 2007 to develop and oversee policy and to agree, as a priority, local structures and protocols for integrated management and delivery of housing and related care services for older people. The work of this group will ultimately feed into the Government's new National Positive Aging Strategy.