Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 689 together.

My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet 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, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of these schemes, including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities.

Guidelines issued by my Department to local authorities outline that tenants of approved housing bodies may apply for the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and the Mobility Aids Grant. Further details on these schemes is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/

In addition, local authority home improvement loans are available to owner-occupiers towards the cost of necessary works to improve, repair or extend their existing houses. These loans are only available from some local authorities. Homeowners may be eligible for a local authority home improvement loan if they can show the local authority that they cannot get a loan from a bank or building society and their house needs to be improved, repaired or extended due to overcrowding. An income test applies to the local authority home improvement loan.

Applications for the local authority home improvement loan should be made directly to a local authority.