COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 14, 2008

QUESTION NO.11

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager if he will make an updated report on the decision of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to rationalise the system of Grants available for repairs and improvements to dwellings, including the Essential Repairs Grants, Mobility Grants, and in particular if he will advise on when all of these Grants Schemes will come withinn the juristiction of Local Authorities?

REPLY:

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has introduced the Housing Adapation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability, Mobility Aid Grant Scheme and the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme  with effect from 01/11/07.  These schemes replace the Disabled Persons Grant & Essential Repairs Grant Schemes in relation to private dwellings. The Council will contiue to administer the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme in relation to Council dwellings.

The following is a brief summary of the revised schemes:

Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability 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 person with a disability who is a member of the household.The types of works allowable under the scheme are varied and include the provision of access ramps,stair lifts,downstairs toilet facilities,accessible showers,adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access,extensions and any other works that are reasonably necessary for the purpose of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability.

• Grant aid of up to 95% of the cost of the works is available up to a maximum of €30,000
• Prioritisation is  on basis of Medical Need
• Means Testing will apply in determining the level of grant payable as set out in tables below

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability

(Houses over 12 Months Old)

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability

(Houses less than 12 Months Old)

 

Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme

The Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme is available to provide grant aid to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily, but not exclusively, associated with ageing, in order that recipients are not subject to delays in accessing works. 

The types of works allowable under the scheme can be varied in order to address the mobility problems of a member of the household and shall include: grab-rails,  access ramps, level access showers, stair-lifts, and any other minor works as may be necessary to facilitate the mobility needs of the applicant.

• The  grant up to a maximum of €6,000 to cover 100% of the cost of works will be available to those with gross annual household incomes of up to €30,000.

Housing Aid for Older People Scheme

The Essential Repairs Grant Scheme was replaced by the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme on 1st November 2007. The new Scheme,when fully operational, will incorporate the works previously funded by the Council under the Essential Repairs Grant Scheme along with those applications processed by the Health Service Executive(HSE) under the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme .

The Scheme of Housing Aid for Older People is available to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out.

However,the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government  has advised the Council that the HSE will continue to administer the Special Housing Aid  for the Elderly Scheme until further notice pending full resolution of all issues pertaining to the transfer of the Scheme to the Council.  Applicants seeking funding under that scheme should continue to apply directly to the HSE.  Means testing in order to determine the amount of grant payable is calculated in accordance with the following table: