Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

323. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he expects to make an announcement on the allocated 2023 budget for housing adaptation grants for older people and people with disabilities and housing aid for older people to local authorities for private dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4034/23]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

348. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the up-to-date position with the review group into the housing aid and housing adaption grants as administered by each local authority; if he has received the recommendations; if he is planning changes to these grants; if so, when such changes are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4668/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 348 together.

The funding provision for 2023 for the Private House Grants, which includes the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability and other schemes such as the Thatching grant, is €67 million, an increase of €2 million on the 2022 provision of €65 million, continuing the year on year increases since 2014. The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability facilitates older people and disabled people to remain living independently in their own homes.

In advance of formal notification of the 2023 funding allocations to local authorities, work in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability can continue as local authorities may commit up to 65% of their 2022 allocation in approving applications for 2023. This ensures seamless continuation of the grant scheme from year to year. I expect that the 2023 funding allocations will issue shortly to local authorities.

Housing for All commits to reviewing the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. A report on the review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability has been prepared by my Department. I will be giving careful consideration to the review report and expect to make a decision on the recommendations in the report as soon as possible.