Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding on an annual basis under the Disabled Persons Grants (DPGs) scheme to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to the existing social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants. The scheme applies to works that are necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability. This may involve minor adaptations, such as stair-lifts, grabs -rails, showers, wet-rooms, ramps etc., but can also provide funding for more major adaptations such as extensions, for example in the case of overcrowding, or the installation of a downstairs bedroom or bathroom.

Under the DPG scheme, my Department also provides funding for Improvement Works in Lieu (IWIL's) to enable local authorities to repair, improve or extend privately owned houses that are occupied or intended to be occupied by approved housing applicants, as an alternative to the provision of local authority housing.

On top of the exchequer funding amounts, the local authority makes a further 10% contribution in respect of these grants. The detailed administration of these grants, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications, is the responsibility of the local authorities.

Funding allocations are made annually following the overall evaluation of the work proposals and related funding requirements submitted by local authorities. Details of the funding allocations for each local authority during the period 2016 to 2018 are as follows:

Table A: 2016 DPG Allocations

Table B: 2017 DPG Allocations

Table C: 2018 DPG Allocations