Housing adaptation grant funding
Deputy Imelda Munster highlighted reduced local funding for housing adaptation grants and warned Louth would not meet demand. The Minister said allocations had increased, more funding would be announced later in the week, and he would discuss any specific local issues afterwards.
With regard to the programme for Government and improving the lives of people with a disability through housing adaptation grants, the total budget allocated to Louth County Council this year is slightly less than €1.5 million, which is almost €500,000 less than last year. These figures are replicated in other counties. We are only halfway through the year and the council has already received 267 applications. It also carried over 95 applications from last year, bringing the total to 362. Louth County Council will only be able to deliver on one third of the applications with Government funding. It would need a further €1.8 million to clear the remaining applications. Will the Government continue to deny vulnerable people the basic home supports and housing adaptations they need to live independently-----
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-----or will it release the additional funding needed to clear the applications, including last year's carryover?
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This was a commitment in the programme for Government.
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I thank Deputy Munster for the question.
My Department and the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, recently announced an increase in allocations for housing adaptation grants for this year. Funding for housing adaptation grants has increased this year. Later this week, we will announce additional funding for these grants to help in this area. The number of grants is increasing because more funding has been provided for this area. If the Deputy would like me to look at the specific unresolved issues in the local authority in her constituency, we can discuss the matter after questions.