Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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753. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the threshold of an annual household income of €60,000 is being reconsidered or under review in regard to the housing adaptation grant for persons with a disability; and if not, if he will consider a review with the intention of updating the means testing process in order to reflect average industrial wages. [26468/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for Older People and People with a Disability in private houses.

The Scheme is focused towards lower income households with the greatest needs and a means test applies to the Scheme in order to achieve fairness and value for money in its operation. The current income limits for the Scheme were reviewed and amended in 2014, arising from the recommendations of a review group, which included consultations with the Irish Wheelchair Association, the National Disability Authority, Ataxia Ireland and the Irish Society for Autism. I have no plans at this stage to change the annual household income threshold referred to.

For the purposes of the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, household income is calculated as the annual gross income of the registered property owner together with all household members over 18, or over 23 if in full-time education, in the previous tax year. Certain income is disregarded in calculating household income, including €5,000 for each member of the household up to 18 years, Family Income Supplement, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance, if paid in respect of the person to whom the grant application relates.