COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, June 12, 2023
QUESTION NO.17
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the CEO to detail actions he is taking in relation to housing supports for those in our communities who are disabled and will he make a statement? Charlie O'Connor
REPLY:
The South Dublin Housing and Disability Steering Group meet on a quarterly basis. The steering group consists of South Dublin County Council’s Director of Housing (Chair), Senior Staff from the Council’s Housing allocations team, HSE representatives, AHB representative, representatives from the disability sectors operating in the local area and persons with independent living experience.
As a housing authority, the Council has a key role in providing social housing to eligible disabled persons.
In accordance with the Allocations Scheme, medical priority may be awarded to a household if the following three criteria apply to a household:
- you or someone in your household has a disability or a medical condition and
- the current accommodation is not suitable to meet the needs of the person with a disability or medical condition and
- a change in housing will improve or stabilise the circumstances of the person with a disability or medical condition
Following revised procedures introduced in 2021, approved existing applicants for social housing supports can apply for medical priority by completing the appropriate form (HMD Form 1) which must be supported by two medical practitioners. All such forms received are assessed by the Council’s independent medical referee who, based on the information submitted, will determine whether the priority provision of accommodation by the Council is required to assist with or improve the household’s medical circumstances outlined.
There are currently 513 households approved for medical priority. 112 of these applicants are in need of wheelchair accommodation.
The Council also provides Disabled Persons Grants and Housing Assistance Grants to support alterations and modifications to existing homes.
Housing Grants (Private Homes)
There are three categories of available housing grants for private households as follows:
- Housing Adaptation Grant (HAG) for people with a disability (HAG)– grant to assist disabled people with required works (Max grant €30k/means tested/required Occupational Therapist recommendation)
- Housing Aid for Older People Grant (HOP): essential repairs/improvements for older people aged 66years+. (Max grants €8k/means tested)
- Mobility Aids Grant (MAG) – mobility works for older persons, based on OT report (max Grant €6K/ means tested on household income <€30k).
The grants are 80% funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with the balance of 20% provided by the Council through our annual revenue budget.
South Dublin County Council 2023 allocation is €3,792,515, which is a €221,075 (6.2%) increase on their 2022 allocation.
From January to 31st May 2023, a total of 258 new grant applications from private households were received by the Council. Of these, 81 grants were approved with a total value of €665,000.
The breakdown of the grants approved and paid is outlined below:
|
Category |
No. Grants Approved up to 31st May 2023 |
Value (€) Grants Approved up to 31st May 2023 |
No. Grants Paid up to 31st May 2023 |
Value (€) Grants Paid up to May 2023 |
|
HAG |
54 |
€558,000 |
100 |
€1,093,312 |
|
HOP |
21 |
€90,000 |
20 |
€50,802 |
|
MAG |
6 |
17,000 |
47 |
€235,436 |
|
TOTAL |
81 |
665,000 |
167 |
1,379,550 |
The average time from grant validation (application and documentation complete) to approval time is 10 weeks.
63 applications received were not valid after initial checking and required further documentation to be submitted.
A new online application process for housing grants has been developed through our Housing Online portal and this is due to be rolled out in June 2023.
Disabled Persons Grants (Council tenants)
65 applications for Disabled Person Grants were received from Council tenants for alterations on medical grounds in 2022. The following works were carried out under the scheme which is 90% funded by the Department of Housing, Local government and Heritage, at a total cost of €75,609.20.
DPG Works by Category 2023
|
Works |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Total |
|
Level Access Shower |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
15 |
|
Ramp |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Stairlift |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
9 |
|
Downstairs Toilet |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
|
Small Works |
3 |
14 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
42 |
|
Other |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
Total |
9 |
22 |
15 |
16 |
19 |
81 |