COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 08, 2013
MOTION NO. 9
MOTION: Councillor M. Devine
That this Council expresses its dismay at the unacceptable delay in home adaptations urgently required for Tenants severely affected by deteriorating medical conditions. That the Manager provide a report on Grants acknowledged / agreed but no work has yet commenced
REPORT:
While there is no prescribed timeline for the assessment of applications and completion of adaptation works on our Council stock for tenants affected by medical conditions, all available resources to bring applications and works to a satisfactory conclusion are applied as speedily as possible.
There are currently 204 applications on hand from Council Tenants for works to be undertaken to their dwellings to facilitate tenants or members of their families who suffer varying disabilities. These applications have been categorised but not approved as follows:
- 21 of these tenants are seeking to have extensions constructed to their dwellings and based on the latest tender figures, this category would incur the highest level of cost, averaging €40,000 per extension.
The other 183 Tenants have applied for smaller works along the followiing lines:
- Showers 41%
- House Alterations 32%
- Stairlifts 16%
- Downstairs Toilets 11%
Extensions to Council dwellings are primarily financied by the DOECLG (90%). This year, an allocation of €138,854 was received, most of which was needed to meet existing commitments on the small number of extensions which were commenced last year. However a request is being submitted to the DOECLG for additional funding.
Minor works to Council dwellings are financed from Internal Capital Receipts. The DOECLG has approved the Council to expend the sum of €290,000 on minor works to Council dwellings in the current year. To date on foot of this approval, the Council has sanctioned works to 24 dwellings. It is expected that a similar amount will be sanctioned and completed from this budget by yearend.
Due to the limited funding available and in the interest of equity, all applications on hand and those which will continue to be received will have to be prioritised by reference to the guidelines issued by the DOECLG regarding grants being paid to private homeowners as follows:
'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'.
'Priority 2: Mobile but needs assistance in accessing washing, toilet facilities, bedroom etc; or where, without the alterations/adaptations, the disabled person's ability to function independently would be hindered'.
'Priority 3: Independent but requires special facilities to improve the quality of life, e.g. separate bedroom/living space.'