Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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173. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 26 March 2014 if the medical circumstances of an applicant who is under age 66 may be taken into consideration by the local authority when assessing a request to have the priority assigned to the needed works changed to a different category. [31895/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP) provides grants of up to € 8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting etc.

Following a review of the scheme in 2013, the age limit for eligilibity under the HAOP was increased from 60 to 66 years. However, a lower age limit can apply at the discretion of the relevant local authority. On 10 March 2014, my Department circulated copies of the revised administrative guidelines for the HAOP to all local authorities. Section 2.1 states that where, in the opinion of the local authority, genuine cases of hardship exist the authority may consider the payment of a grant to individuals who are less than 66 years of age.