COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, October 14, 2013
QUESTION NO. 7
QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney
To ask the Manager for an update on the status of Housing Adaptation Grants applications, and to make a statement on the matter?
REPLY:
Housing Grant Schemes for older people and those who are disabled:
Housing Grant Schemes for older people and those who are disabled (HAGS, MAGS and HOPS) are financed 80% by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and 20% by the Council from its own resources.
These grants are available in respect of owner occupied dwellings and certain rented dwellings (subject to written permission being provided by the Landlord). The schemes provide that grants may be awarded 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).
The Council was notified by letter dated 1st March 2013 from DoECLG of its 2013 approved allocation for the payment of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Schemes in the sum of €1,213,986.05. This allocation represented a 40% reduction (nationally) on the 2012 spend on these grants.
Following a request of the Members, and careful in-house monitoring of ongoing demand and expenditure, the Council made two separate submissions to the DoECLG which outlined the position of the Council in relation to the funding and asked that favourable consideration be given to potentially sourcing additional funding for these vital Housing Grant Schemes.
Two supplementary allocations of €100,889 and €156,934 respectively were approved in response to claims made to the Department bringing the *combined capital allocation to total €1,536,265.
We are continuing to administer the scheme by targeting funding at essential works only on the basis of medical needs prioritised below (as outlined in March 2013 DoECLG allocation notification letter):
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 facilities, or where, without the adaptation the disabled persons' ability to function independently would be hindered.
Priorty3: The applicant is independent, but requires special facilities to improve their quality of life, e.g. separate bedroom or living space.
Unfortunately due to current financial constraints and significant demand on limited resources, applications which do not fall into the Priority 1 category cannot be approved at this time.
At the 30/09/2013, 153 grants totaling €1,208,676 were paid out while grants to a value of €482,103 have been approved but not yet paid.
As this year's allocation is fully accounted for, the Council is carefully monitoring 'take up' of approvals to ensure that any monies approved but not expended are brought back through the system.
2014 Budgets:
A review of the housing grant schemes is currently before the Minister for consideration and a determination is expected in advance of notification of the 2014 grant allocation.
Notwithstanding the review, application to the DoECLG for the Council's share of the national allocation has traditionally been made having regard to the following information requested:
· Number and value of applications already granted approval
· Number and value of applications on hand and awaiting approval
· Projection of number and value payments for applications to be received