Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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652. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if an occupational therapist will be assigned to Kerry County Council to accelerate housing adaptation grant application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23531/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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782. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the allocations for local authority and housing adaptation grants for people with disabilities will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24500/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 782 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.

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. Local authorities were recently informed of their 2025 allocations with each local authority receiving an increase on the 2024 allocation, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.

The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities. While an Occupational Therapist report informs a local authority's assessment of a grant application, the final decision on the works approved and the most appropriate type of grant for the applicant's needs, rests with the local authority.

My Department outlines a number of options in relation to occupational therapy assessment, and as such, the process varies from local authority to local authority. Local authorities may retain the services of an Occupational Therapist on a fee per case basis or on a contract basis, enter into an arrangement with their local HSE office in order to avail of HSE Occupational Therapists in their area or employ the services of an Occupational Therapist directly.

Where a local authority engages an Occupational Therapist on a fee per case basis or on a contract basis, my Department will recoup to local authorities 85% of the cost of each assessment, subject to a limit of €255 per assessment. In addition, an applicant may engage an Occupational Therapist to assess their needs and the cost of engaging the Occupational Therapist is recouped to the applicant as part of the total grant paid, subject to a limit of €300 per assessment.