Rise in Housing Adaptation grants required
The government is being urged to increase grant amounts available under the Housing Adaption, Mobility and Older Person’s Grant scheme in light of rising construction costs.
Income thresholds also “require updating,” claims Independent Brendan Fay, who further states that the “range of works permissible” under such schemes should be reviewed to reflect the need to “promote renewable energy and new technologies".
Cllr Fay tabled the motion at the November council meeting. Currently, the maximum grant is €6,000, which may cover 100% of the cost of the works such as installing an accessible shower.
“It’s impossible to get tiled,” said Cllr Fay, noting that the grant amount at present is simply “not enough”.
He added that the Housing Aid for Older People grant for essential repairs to improve an older person's home so they can continue to live there also does not cover costs. It meant, he said, that people were “afraid” to apply.
The cost of keeping someone in a nursing home or hospital, Cllr Fay told the meeting, was close to €1,000 per week to the State. If the money was directed accordingly to the grants system, more people could live at home.
“It should be cost effective for everyone,” he stated.
Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly agreed, as did Independent Cllr Shane P O’Reilly.
“We all know the issue,” said Cllr O’Reilly, who questioned why grants are available all year round with no cut off deadline as is the case in some other counties. To do so, he suggested, would give the council an opportunity to deal with the current backlog.
“They’re absolutely swamped by applications. They’re still only getting through some of 2019.”
He said there was a need to “look at solutions”, and suggested the matter be referred to the Strategic Policy Committee for further in-depth discussion.
TP O’Reilly (FG) and Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley both acknowledged the impact the rise in costs was having, the latter calling on government to limit the matched funding required from local authorities.
Director of Services Eoin Doyle responded, telling councillors that a review of grants is "ongoing”.
He said a fundamental fix would be a change to a requirement for “co-funding” applications with the council’s own money.
He informed the meeting that, post pandemic, a total of 238 projects had been fully approved, and that the council will spend its final allocations in 2023 and 2024.