Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:247. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of doubling the housing adaptation grant. [39878/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 8 October 2024
Ceisteanna (247)
Freagraí scríofa
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 detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities. The Department does not hold the disaggregated information required to provide such costings.
The Exchequer funding provision for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme has been increased by €25 million for 2025 to almost €100 million.
On 26 September 2024, Minister O'Brien and I published the Report on the Review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Amongst the recommendations included in the Report are a proposed increase in the grant limits by over 30% and the income thresholds by 25% as well as number of other measures in relation to the means test.
The Report on the Review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability is available on my Department’s website at the following link: gov.ie - Ministers O’Brien and Dillon announce reforms following review of the Housing Adaptation Grants (www.gov.ie).
My Department will now proceed to implement the review recommendations through bringing forward a statutory instrument as soon as possible, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, with the aim of introducing a revised scheme in Quarter 1 of 2025.