Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Grant Payments

Photo of Johnny MythenJohnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding allocated for housing adaptation grants to Wexford County Council for 2020, 2021 and 2022; the amount of funding drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25887/22]

Photo of Johnny MythenJohnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications that were received for a private housing adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability to Wexford County Council for 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of these grants have been granted; the number that were refused; the number that are pending a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25889/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 218 together.

My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, each of which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. Details of the allocations and drawdowns for all local authorities, including Wexford County Council, up to 2021, are available on my Department's website at the following link:  

www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics

Funding of €81.25 million is available nationally in 2022 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme. The 2022 funding allocation for all local authorities is also available on my Department’s website at the following link: 

www.gov.ie/en/press-release/32a48-improved-homes-for-older-people-and-those-with-a-disability-as-ministers-obrien-and-burke-announce-over-80m-in-funding/ 

Wexford County Council have drawn down a total of €1,259,554 in grant funding from my Department up to 23 May 2022. The detailed administration of the grants including their assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities. My Department does not hold information in relation to the local authority assessment, approval and prioritisation of grant applications. This information may be available directly from the local authorities.

Photo of Johnny MythenJohnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications that were received for a social housing adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability to Wexford County Council for 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of these grants that have been granted; the number that were refused; the number that are pending a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25888/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation is the responsibility of local authorities. 

My Department's approach every year is to issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan, prioritise and implement the programme to carry out the varying works necessary to meet the needs of their tenants. The programme is 90% funded by the Department with a 10% contribution from the Local Authority.

The allocation and drawdown of funding for each local authority for the period 2011-2021 for the Disabled Persons Grant, which incorporates Improvement Works in Lieu, is available at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/061cd-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown/?referrer=www.gov.ie/en/publication/c472d-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown-2011-2020/

Funding to the value of €23.6 million will be allocated for the 2022 schemes. Wexford County Council's allocation for 2022 under this programme is €623,295.

The local authority has responsibility for the administration of the Disabled Persons Grant scheme.  My Department does not gather the information in relation to the number of applications granted, refused or pending a decision. This information should be available from the relevant Local Authority.

The statistics on output in relation to 2022 will be available in early 2023.

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