105. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is provision in legislation to enable local authorities to disregard some income from assessment under the housing adaptation for people with a disability scheme in circumstances of profound disabilities; to outline the legislation and the steps that need to be taken by the applicant to have income disregarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43316/24]

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 Regulations underpinning the scheme state that the Minister may from time to time issue guidelines to housing authorities in relation to the level and nature of income to be disregarded for the purposes of the operation of the scheme. These guidelines are available on request from local authorities. A number of payments from the Department of Social Protection are disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Typically these payments are paid in respect of individuals who are either caring or financially supporting a third party, for example a child, a relative with an enduring impairment or a child in foster care. Specific payments related to basic needs such as fuel allowance etc. are also disregarded. These disregards are designed to ensure that the provision of financial assistance for living costs or care do not disadvantage an individual applying for grant assistance under the scheme. Payments such as Disability Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit or Non-Contributory Pension are not disregarded as they are income subsidies paid directly to an individual, and are therefore assessed as income under the means test in line with the regulations. The applicant can identify the relevant disregards being applied for on the application form.

On the 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: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ef265-ministers-obrien-and-dillon-announce-reforms-following-review-of-the-housing-adaptation-grants/#:~:text=The%20planned%20proposed%20changes%20follow%20today’s

My Department is proceeding to implement the review recommendations through bringing forward a statutory instrument, for consideration and signature, with the aim of introducing a revised scheme together with updated guidelines for local authorities.