Written answers
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Departmental Data
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1147.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the budget for housing adaptation grants in 2024; the budget for every year since 2016; the number of individual homes assisted in each year; the projected number for 2024; the average cost of works, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32998/24]
Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1157.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the recommendations from the review into the adaptation grants scheme will be actioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33181/24]
Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1158.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of people waiting for all types of housing adaptation grants in County Louth, to include the length of time they have been waiting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33182/24]
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1147, 1157 and 1158 together.
My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, 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 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, which will facilitate the payment of over 13,000 grants. Local authorities were informed of their 2024 allocations with each local authority receiving an increase on the 2023 allocation, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.
Details of the allocations and number of grants paid for 2016 - 2023 are available on my Department's website at the following link:
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The detailed administration of the grants including their assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of the local authorities. My Department does not hold information in relation to the average cost of works or the number of people waiting and related waiting times for individual local authorities. This information may be available directly from the local authorities including Louth County Council.
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 the review considered are the income thresholds (including the means test provisions) and grant limits, and the application and decision-making processes including the supplementary documentation required. 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.
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