South Dublin County Council will receive funding to provide home adaptations for older people and those living with disability and mobility issues, a Fine Gael Deputy has said. TD for Dublin Mid-West, Deputy Emer Higgins said, “I am delighted to welcome this announcement of a €75m fund for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which will include €2.9m for South Dublin County Council.
“These grants are crucial for helping our older citizens and those with disabilities and mobility issues to maintain their independence and will also ensure that their homes are properly equipped to facilitate early return from hospital. “The grants are 80% funded from the exchequer by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with 20% funding from the relevant local authority. “South Dublin County Council will receive a combined total of €2,925,531 to support people with the repairs and other adaptations they need to live comfortably and safely in their own homes.”
Grants of up to €30,000 are available to help people with a disability in carrying out works required to make a house more suitable for their needs, up to €8,000 to assist older people to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out and up to €6,000 for mobility aids. Deputy Higgins concluded “These grants will also boost local employment opportunities for tradespeople and businesses and alleviate some of the dependency on our health services by supporting people to live independently for as long as they can.” “I also welcome Minister O’Brien’s confirmation that housing adaptation works can go ahead in the current restrictions with the consent of the homeowner and once public health guidelines are adhered to.”
Announcing the funding, Minister Burke said, “I am pleased that funding for our Local Authorities to administer this scheme has been increasing year on year since 2014. This shows the importance that is attached to the scheme and the Government’s commitment to older people and those with a disability. “These grants have an huge impact on the quality of life of the many beneficiaries and play a vitally important role in helping people with a disability and people who are reaching an age in life when they are less mobile, to continue to live independently in their own homes. “As Minister of State with responsibility for housing for older people and people with a disability, I am fully committed to assisting individuals to stay in their own homes and within their own communities for as long as possible and these allocations today will facilitate this goal for many” he concluded.
