Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1590. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the funding provided by his Department each year in the past four years for the scheme of housing aid for older people; his plans to increase the funding for this scheme next year in view of the demand for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34522/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Housing Aid for Older People scheme is one of a suite of schemes under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which is administered by the local authorities. Three separate schemes are available, as follows:

(i) 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 and improvements carried out. Eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, rewiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting, etc.;

(ii) Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (HAG) which assists 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. Grants for up to €30,000 are available for works including the provision of access ramps, stair lifts, accessible toilet and shower facilities, wheelchair access and extensions;

(iii) Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (MAG)provides grants up to €6,000 to cover works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works.

Overall outturns for the three schemes and for the Housing Aid for Older People scheme alone for the past 4 years are outlined in the following table. The overall allocation for 2014 for the suite of schemes is €38.6m, an increase on the 2013 allocation.