Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will take action on the Report of Findings of the Muscular Dystrophy Ireland National Survey 2009 which found that the majority of persons with muscular dystrophy need to move house or adapt their homes to make them suitable to their needs but that 60% of persons who received local authority grants to adapt their homes state that grants are not sufficient to meet the cost; if he will improve the grant scheme in terms of the amounts available, the numbers of persons entitled and the reduction of unacceptably long waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5878/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, reflects the commitment to develop a national housing strategy for people with a disability. Work on the strategy is well advanced under the aegis of a National Advisory Group, headed by my Department and involving the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive, social partners and other relevant stakeholders including the National Disability Authority.

The strategy will support the provision of tailored housing and housing supports for people with a disability and will have particular regard to people who have a mental health disability. The outcome of the evaluation of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, which is currently ongoing, will be considered in the strategy. The strategy is expected to be completed later this year.

Under the terms of the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs and to facilitate the continued occupancy of their own homes. Eligible works include the provision of access ramps, stair lifts, accessible showers, wheelchair access and extensions. The level of grant assistance available is significant and I have no plans to increase it, particularly taking account of the better value now available due to falling prices in the construction sector.

My Department requested local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements under the grant schemes for 2010 by 22 January. The information received is being examined at present with a view to determining the allocations as quickly as possible.