Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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356. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funding is available to local authorities in respect of extensions to local authority houses based on medical circumstances and overcrowding; if so, the percentage at which the funding is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15864/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding under the Disabled Persons Grants (DPG) scheme to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to their existing social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants. The scheme applies to adaptations that are necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability who may require stair-lifts, grab-rails, showers, wet-rooms, ramps, etc. It also provides the funding of extensions such as the installation of a downstairs bedroom or bathroom or in the case of overcrowding.

My Department provides 90% funding towards the cost of the eligible works per property with the remaining 10% being provided by the local authorities. The local authority can carry out works up to a maximum level of €75,000 per property without the prior approval of the Department. Applications in excess of this can be submitted to the Department and will be considered for funding on a case by case basis.

My Department is currently finalising the funding requirements for all local authorities under the scheme in 2019; in the meantime they have been advised to continue with the programme pending their 2019 allocation. It is a matter for all local authorities to prioritise the works required under this scheme and to assess individual applications in that context.