I have a question in respect of the housing adaptation grant which the local authorities look after in each county. It is a great scheme and I know the Minister is carrying out a review of it but there are a number of things he might consider. First, the maximum amount of money available is €30,000 at present. In light of the increasing costs which have occurred in the construction industry, and the fact that the €30,000 was set approximately 11 years ago, I ask him to increase that figure to €60,000. Second, in the area of income threshold and assessment, where a person has a disability, it is very unfair to take the family’s entire income into account when it is being assessed for these grants. The person with the disability is the person who needs the adaptations done to the house and this might keep people at home longer.

I thank Deputy Canney for his question. The review of the housing adaptation grant is nearing completion and will come to me very shortly. Amendments are required to it and it needs to keep pace with the increased costs we have seen. A review of it has not been carried out in many years. It is a very effective grant and helps many people stay in their homes, where they want to and should stay. We are looking at extending the works which can be included in the housing adaptation grant. We work closely with the Department of Health on this, in particular in respect of hoists, for example, which were not included. We will cover these this year. The review will be published in the coming weeks. We have taken into account the situation in respect of income thresholds and the maximum grant amounts. We have secured an additional budget this year for an additional spend in that space. Once we publish these, they will be there for everybody to see. I appreciate the Deputy’s input into this matter.