Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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677. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated full-year cost of increasing the income threshold for persons with disabilities applying for a housing adaptation grant from €60,000 to €65,000. [36017/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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As the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are administered by local authorities, information regarding the income levels of applicants is not available in my Department. It is not possible therefore to say what an increase in the threshold would cost.

The income limit for the scheme was amended from €65,000 to €60,000 in 2014 arising from the recommendations of a review group which examined the terms and conditions governing the schemes. The aim of the review was to spread the benefits of the scheme as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in its operation. The scheme is therefore more sharply focussed towards households with greatest needs, especially lower income households.