The disabled person's grant scheme and the housing adaptation scheme are vital elements in ensuring that older people and disabled persons can remain in their homes for as long as possible and enjoy a better quality of life. These grants also support employment and small builders. Tipperary County Council has stopped taking grant applications, effectively meaning that no work can be done for nearly six months. These are essential works like level-access showers, stair lifts and downstairs bedrooms. Tipperary County Council has used this scheme proactively and very effectively but the scheme has now been stopped due to a lack of funds. I ask the Minister to make funds available immediately to ensure grants can continue for the remainder of this year and to put in place a multi-annual funding model so that situations like this never arise again.

After disagreeing with Deputy Healy earlier, I find myself more in agreement with him in relation to this matter. As the Deputy knows and has alluded to, we have allocated extra money for the disabled person's grant in the budget. The question he is asking is a fair one, namely, whether we can do anything between now and the end of the year in relation to Tipperary. We always keep these issues under review. We obviously want to see these works continue. I will ask the Minister to engage with Tipperary County Council to see if progress can be made because there is now certainty and a line of sight as regards funding as a result of the budget.

On the broader point, the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, is overseeing the new human rights strategy for disabled people. This is a real example of where we need to see good co-ordination across the country and across our local authorities. Perhaps we can take that away as an action. Specifically on the period from here to the end of the year, I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, to engage with Tipperary County Council.