COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

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MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 10, 2014

QUESTION NO. 13

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

To ask the Manager to clarify the position for both existing and future applicants to the four schemes which deal with housing adaptation supports, and to make a statement on the matter?

REPLY:

The Department of Environment Community and Local Government recently announced changes to the Housing Grant Schemes which are applicable to privately owned homes.  These changes will be applied to applications received on / after 1st January 2014. Applications received prior to the 31st December 2013 will be processed in accordance with the old schemes and guidelines.

New application forms and Guidelines are currently being compiled by the Department and it is expected that these will be received in the very near future.   This Council has already recorded requests for approximately 100 new application forms. 

 The following three Schemes are applicable to privately owned homes:

 The following shall now apply to these schemes: 

1)      All household members' income should be included in the assessment. Spouse's income is already included, but this will be extended to include other adults living in the house i.e. those over 18 (or over 23 if in full-time education) bringing the criteria in line with the assessment of need for social housing.  There should be a disregard for Carers' Allowance in calculating the household income.   

2)      All applicants will be required to include with their grant application, proof that they are compliant with the Local Property Tax.  

Below are changes specific to the respective schemes

Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (MAGS)

Other than the above there are no specific changes to the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (MAGs). 

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (HAGS) 

1.      The number of income bands has been reduced from 9 to 6 and the percentage of available costs scaled back in line with the following table:    

                            €                    

(a)          Up to 30,000           95%

(b)         30,001-35,000        85%

(c)          35,001-40,000        75%

(d)         40,001-50,000        50%

(e)          50,001-60,000        30%

(f)           Over 60,000          no grant payable (Max reduced from €65k)

 2.      The maximum gross income threshold is reduced by €5,000 to €60,000.

 3.      No extension works will be approved unless all less costly, and "fit for purpose" alternatives have been considered and eliminated e.g. use of technology, reassignment of existing rooms, etc.

4.      An Occupational Therapist should confirm that the works recommended are "fit for purpose" and represent the most economic means of meeting the needs of the applicant.

Housing Aid for Older People (HOPS)

1.      The number of income bands should be reduced from 9 to 6 and the percentage of available costs scaled back in line with the following table:

 (a)          Up to 30,000           95%

(b)         30,001-35,000          85%

(c)         35,001-40,000         75%

(d)         40,001-50,000        50%

(e)          50,001-60,000        30%

(f)           Over 60,000          no grant payable (Max reduced from €65k)

2.      The maximum gross income threshold is reduced by €5,000 to €60,000.

3.      The maximum grant is reduced by €2,500 from €10,500 to €8,000.

4.      Increase in the age limit for eligibility to 66 years.

5.      Only essential repairs will be undertaken to make the property habitable for the person,  each application to be considered on a case by case basis.

By letter dated 16th January 2014, the Council was notified of an allocation of €1,667,043 to cover the three grant schemes in the current year.  The Council will be required to finance €333,409 (20%) with the balance coming from the exchequer.  The letter reiterated the need to prioritise applications as follows having regard to the very high level of demand and the finite resources currently available to ensure that funds are targeted at essential works only: 

'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'. 

The Department of Environment Community and Local Government has also indicated that consideration is currently being given to the introduction of a claw-back option, whereby those receiving a grant of over €15,000 would be required to pay back the grant (or a proportion on a sliding scale over 5 years) if the property is sold within a period of 5 years from the grant being paid.   It is also envisaged that national standard rates for works and fittings will be introduced to achieve consistency across regions.   However, no formal notification has, as yet, been issued in relation to these considerations.

It is assumed that the fourth grant referred in the question is that relating to small works / adaptations and extension works to Council stock for people with a disability / medical priority which are currently funded via funding assistance from DoECLG  and a contribution from Internal Capital Receipts.    We are not aware of any changes to this scheme.