1729. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns that elderly people living alone in a circumstance (details supplied) if the income of all the siblings is taken into account as part of the assessment process; the ways the sibling living in the family home can prove that the other siblings make no financial contribution; if being able to proves this would mean accessing the grant if means allow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57289/26]

1730. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the application of SI 612 of 2024 that is leaving some elderly people unable to access grants for much needed adaptation where the income of all siblings is considered when only one sibling lives in the dwelling requiring adaptation; the supports that are available to a person who has had a grant for much needed adaptation refused because of the income of siblings who do not reside in or contribute to the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57290/26]

1731. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 692 of 3 June 2026, if he will provide details of the way in which a person who has a recommendation for adaptation which they cannot finance and which is required for their safety, health and dignity should proceed; what funding is available to bridge the gap where the grants do not cover the amount and the person does not have the means to cover this; the supports in place where this shortfall cannot be met and the adaptation is required for the dignity, health and safety of the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57340/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1729 to 1731, inclusive, together.

My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority.

The Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People is available to assist in the carrying out of works that are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a disabled person who is a member of the household. The detailed administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval, apportionment of funding, and prioritisation of grant applications, is the responsibility of each local authority.

The Exchequer funding available for these grants in 2026 increased substantially by €30 million to €129.5 million, or over €152 million when accounting for the local authority contribution, continuing the year on year increases since 2014. My Department carried out a review of the Housing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme including a review of the Means Test, and the Report on the Review is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/report-on-the-review-of-the-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/

The Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 612 of 2024), which came into effect on 1 December 2024, provide the legal basis for the introduction of the recommendations set out in the review. The key changes include an increase in the grant limits of over 30% and the income thresholds by 25% whilst also revising the means test. The legislation also adjusts the burden sharing for local authorities by reducing the local authority funding contribution to 15% (from the previous 20%).

The schemes continue to be means tested and operate on a sliding scale with the highest percentage grants available to those with the lowest incomes and vice versa. The enhanced scheme includes the introduction of additional income deductions for housing, residential and home care costs incurred. In addition, a number of payments from the Department of Social Protection are disregarded for the purpose of the means test. 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.

Local authorities, in administering the scheme, work with qualifying applicants to secure the most beneficial outcome possible in line with the applicants' financial circumstances and within the parameters of the Grant Scheme.

The Minister is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy and for the preparation of legislation and guidelines in relation to housing nationally. The day-to-day operation of the private house grants scheme is, however, a matter for the relevant local authority. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. The Minister is precluded by legislation from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the provision of housing grants support regarding any individual application.