Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the options available to persons to cover a shortfall and complete necessary works for an individual who has applied for a housing adaptation grant from their local authority and cannot afford the shortfall between the grant allocation and costs of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26655/24]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to administer 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 suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (max grant €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (max grant €6,000) and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant (max grant €8,000), 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. Local authorities, in administering the scheme, work with qualifying applicants to secure the most beneficial outcome possible in line with applicants' financial circumstances and within the parameters of the Grant Scheme.

The Exchequer funding provision of €74.5 million for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme has been increased by €8 million for 2024, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.

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. 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.