COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 08, 2013

HEADED ITEM NO. 5

REPORTS REQUESTED BY AREA COMMITTEES   

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People Grant - 2013 Allocation

Manager's Report:

The following Motion proposed by Councillor D. Looney, seconded by Councillor C. King was considered at the Tallaght Area Committee Meeting held on 25th March 2013:

That this Committee notes with serious concern the announcement by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government of substantial cuts to housing adaptation grants for older people and those who are disabled; that a report be provided on the uptake of these grants by those in this area in 2011 and 2012; that a preliminary report be issued on how these cuts will affect grants in the area under the remit of this committee for 2013; and that a full report on the impact of these proposed cuts be made to the April Council meeting.

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

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 hospitalization 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.

The motion was passed at the Tallaght ACM and in accordance with Standing Order 58 (b) this matter is now before the council as a report requested by the Area Committee.