Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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203. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the up-to-date position with replacing or improving the terms and conditions for the housing aid and housing adaption grants as operated by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23357/24]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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204. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount drawn down by each local authority for the housing aid, housing adaption and mobility grants; if the moneys have been paid for this year; if local authorities are seeking additional funding; the breakdown, by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23358/24]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 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, 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.

Exchequer funding of €74.5 million is available nationally for the scheme in 2024. In advance of formal notification of the 2024 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 75% of their initial 2023 allocation in approving applications for 2024. This ensures seamless continuation of the grant scheme from year to year. The funding drawdown information requested to date for 2024 is set out in the following table:

I expect that the 2024 funding allocations will issue shortly to local authorities. My Department has not received any applications for additional funding to date in 2024.

Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds that apply and the grant limits. On foot of my consideration of the Review report, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the report with a view to bringing forward amendments to the relevant Regulations governing the schemes as soon as possible with a view to also publishing the final report.