Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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228. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to increase funding for housing adaptation grants for County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33484/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding on an annual basis under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme (DPGs) to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to the existing social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants. 

The scheme applies primarily to works that are necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability. This generally involves minor adaptations such as stair-lifts, grabs -rails, showers, wet-rooms, ramps, etc. It also provides funding however for more significant adaptations which may be required to relieve overcrowding or accommodate a disability. Examples of the type of works would include the extension of a dwelling in the case of overcrowding or the provision of a downstairs bedroom ensuite or bathroom in the case of elderly or disabled persons.

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. Exchequer funding of €23.6 million is being made available under the 2022 programme of which almost €700,000 has been allocated to Mayo County Council. The allocation for Mayo County Council is equal to their request for funding per their 2022 work programme submitted to the Department earlier this year.

Under the delegated sanction currently in place, the maximum cost of works in each individual case is €75,000 and my Department will fund 90% of the cost of eligible works.  Therefore, the maximum Departmental funding available per project under delegated sanction is €67,500. In such cases a contribution of 10% of the cost will be required from the Authority’s own resources.

Where the total cost of works to a property is projected to exceed €75,000 and additional funding is sought by the local authority, prior approval from the Department is required. The maximum Department contribution will remain at 90% of the cost of eligible works.

Over the course of the year, my Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. This means that if underspends arise on the part of some local authorities, they can be redistributed to other authorities. Furthermore, if a local authority is dealing with a high level of applications or in the case of unforeseen emergency works, further additional funding can be requested from my Department and every effort will be made to accede to any such request.