COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 08, 2013

MOTION NO. 1

MOTION: Councillor C. King

Mayors Business

That this Council condemns the recent announcement by the DECLG to cut Housing grants to Local Authorities by 40% which will mean that this Council like others will not be capable of fulfilling its obligations on providing grants for adaptations to Older and Disabled Citizens in our County which will have a hugely negative impact on their quality of life. This Council further Calls on the Minister to reverse this unjust cut and enable us to continue our proud tradition in South Dublin of successfully fulfilling our obligations under the Housing grants system.

REPORT:

The Council operates three Housing Grant Schemes for older people and those who are disabled as follows:

• The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability
• The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme 
• The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme.

These grants are available in respect of owner occupied dwellings and certain rented dwellings (subject to written permission being provided by the Landlord).

Grants may be awarded under these schemes by South Dublin County Council to qualified applicants subject to the criteria set out in the regulations and associated guidance documents issued by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG).

South Dublin County Council recently received notification from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government of the approved allocation for 2013 for these grants in the sum of €1,213,986.05.  This reflects a 40% reduction (for the County and nationally) over the 2012 spend. 

In correspondence received from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government it was advised that due to the finite resources which are currently available, local authorities should ensure that funds are targeted at essential works only and that an effective and easy to understand scheme of prioritisation be put in place to ensure that applications are prioritised on the basis of the medical needs of the applicant. The three levels of medical priority advised to this Council are as follows:

1.  Priority 1: Terminally ill or mainly dependent on family or a carer, or where alterations/adaptations would facilitate the discharge from hospital or alleviate hospitalisation in the future.
2. Priority 2: Mobile, but needs assistance in accessing facilities, or where, without the adaptation the disabled persons’ ability to function independently would be hindered.
3. Priorty 3: The applicant is independent, but requires special facilities to improve their quality of life, e.g. separate bedroom or living space.

 To date grants to a total value of €434,193 over the 3 schemes have been paid out countywide.

The Council is scheduled for a Housing Action Plan meeting with the Department officials mid April at which the matter will be raised.

If the motion is passed, the terms thereof will be conveyed to the Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government.