Today the Department of Housing announced funding of €81.25m for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. This represents a 8.3% national increase in allocations and continues the year-on-year increases in the grant since 2014.
These grants, available through the County Councils, are aimed to making life easier for those with decreasing mobility, with a disability or currently hoping to return home from a healthcare setting. Every county will see an increase in their annual allocation.
Every year these grants make it possible for people to stay in their own homes. Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability in carrying out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs. Grants of up to €8,000 are available to assist older people towards necessary repairs or improvements of their homes and grants of up to €6,000 are available for mobility aids. Note these grants are means tested. For more information please see gov.ie or contact your local County Council.
Three distinct grant types are available.
the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability assists people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs.
the Mobility Aids Grant is available to fast track grants to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works.
the Housing Aid for Older People Grant assists older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, and provision of heating.
I welcome the increase year on year as I am very aware there is high demand for these grants in every county. I encourage people to get their application in as soon as possible and if they require any assistance to get in touch with my office.