Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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1192. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the farm succession scheme promoted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; whether his Department has considered the impact that passing on farmland and properties to farmers' children has on access to housing schemes such as the housing adaptation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19129/25]

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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1322. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when additional funding will be allocated to local authorities for the housing aid and housing adaptation grants given that some local authorities have already closed some of these grants to new applicants. [20621/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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1358. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when funding will be allocated to local authorities for the housing grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21205/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1192, 1322 and 1358 together.

My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are now 85% funded from the Exchequer, with a 15% contribution from the resources of the local authority under the revised scheme which commenced from 1 December 2024. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.

Budget 2025 provided for an increase of €25m in the funding provision for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, with almost €100 million allocated for 2025. This increase will ensure that the grants remain fit for purpose for older and disabled people.

My Department advises local authorities annually that, as far as practicable, a percentage of the allocation under the schemes should be ring fenced in respect of any emergency applications which might arise under these schemes during the course of the year. Consequently, all local authorities manage their schemes to ensure access to the grants programme is maintained to the extent possible throughout the year on a priority basis.

In advance of formal notification of the 2025 funding allocations to local authorities, work in respect of these programmes can continue as local authorities may commit up to 75% of their 2024 allocation in approving applications for 2025. This ensures seamless continuation of these grant schemes from year to year. I expect that the 2025 funding allocations will issue shortly to local authorities.

Policy relating to farm succession planning is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.