Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
728. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm if a person who has a right of residency in a property previously owned by them, is eligible for funding under the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40051/26]
View answerMy Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority.
The Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 612 of 2024), which came into effect on 1 December 2024, provide the legal basis for the scheme as administered by all local authorities. My Department issues guidelines to local authorities to ensure the consistent operation of the scheme nationwide. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.
The requirement for a tenancy agreement registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) only applies where a grant application relates to a house rented from a private landlord or an Approved Housing Body. Applications may also be considered under the terms of the scheme if an applicant resides in a privately owned house where no tenancy agreement is in place. The applicant must occupy the home as their primary place of residence upon completion of the grant aided works. The schemes continue to be means tested, assessing the income of the registered owner(s), and, if applicable, their spouse, of a property which is the subject of an application.
