Written Answers Nos. 473-475
473. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the funding in 2026 for the rightsizing element of the Social Housing Acquisitions Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68590/26]
View answerMy Department's Social Housing Second-Hand Acquisitions Programme is available to local authorities to support social housing qualified households in the most challenging and precarious housing situations, helping prevent such households from falling into homelessness and supporting those in homelessness to exit into permanent housing.
Accordingly, it funds local authorities to acquire properties, as a last resort emergency option when no other solution is available, under the following priorities:
• Exits from homelessness;
• Supporting older persons, persons with disabilities, care leavers, &c; and
• Preventing homelessness and tenancy sustainment.
The programme only supports social housing qualified households in urgent need of housing. Generally, the default first options must always be an existing or new build local authority or AHB owned social home, or an alternative social housing supported tenancy in the private rental sector.
My Department has never operated a private rightsizing scheme. Some local authorities may have operated such schemes independently and included them in the allocations policies in their capacity as Housing Authorities. It is a matter for those authorities to make provisions for such policies.
474. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that the application of SI 612/2024 is leaving some elderly people unable to access grants for much needed adaptation where the income of all siblings is considered when only one sibling lives in the dwelling requiring adaptation; if he can advise of any supports that are available to a person who has had a grant for much needed adaptation refused because of the income of siblings who do not reside in or contribute to the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68599/26]
View answer475. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the ways a family member solely residing in a family home owned by elderly people can prove that their other siblings make no financial contributions (details supplied); if being able to prove this for the assessment process would mean accessing a grant for adaptation, if means allow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68596/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 475 together.
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 grants available operate on a sliding scale with the highest percentage grants available to those with the lowest incomes and vice versa. The schemes are means tested and grant assistance is available to applicants whose assessed household income, after disregards and deductions, is up to €75,000 per annum. The household income approach is intended to spread the benefits of the grant scheme as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in operation of the scheme towards those with the greatest needs.
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 detailed administration of the scheme, including the assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment of individual applications, is a matter for the relevant local authority.
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.
