COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

QUESTION NO.3

QUESTION: Councillor N. Fennell

To ask the manager to provide a report as to the amount of time taken to process a House Adaptation Grant, and the number of applications made in 2022, 2023 & 2024 in the Lucan-Palmerstown-North Clondalkin area?

REPLY:

Revised regulations for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme came into effect on 1^st December 2024.  The following grants are available to private homeowners in the South Dublin administrative area: 

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme

This scheme is available to assist older people (aged 66+) living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out.

The effective maximum grant of €10,700 to cover up to 100% of the cost of works, may be available to applicants with gross household incomes of up to €37,500 per annum, tapering to 30% for applicants with gross household incomes of between €62,501 to €75,000 per annum. The same means test applies in every local authority area and is in line with the criteria for assessment of need for social housing.

The grant can be used for essential repairs including:

• Roof repair or replacement
• Electrical wiring upgrade
• Repair or replacement of doors and windows
• Repair broken heating or provide heating where there is none. 

Grants are no longer available for the purchase of new fossil fuel boilers.   

The Mobility Aids Grant scheme

This scheme provides grant aid to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems, primarily, but not exclusively, associated with ageing.

The effective maximum grant under the Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme is €8,000, which may cover 100% of the cost of works. Applicants must have a gross household income of up to €37,500 per annum.

The types of work allowable under this scheme are to improve access in your home, for example:

• Installation of grab rails
• Ramp construction
• Accessible shower installation
• Stair lift installation
• Fixed track hoists (excluding service, maintenance and training costs)

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability scheme

This scheme provides grant aid to applicants to assist in the carrying out of works that are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation needs of a person with a physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability.

The effective maximum grant of €40,000 to cover up to 100% of the cost of works, may be available to applicants with gross household incomes of up to €37,500 per annum, tapering to 30% for applicants with gross household incomes of between €62,501 to €75,000 per annum.

The types of work allowable under the scheme can be varied and may include:

• Ramp or other access solutions
• Grab rails installation
• Accessible bathroom facilities, for example an accessible shower or a downstairs toilet
• Stair lift installation
• Fixed track hoists (excluding service, maintenance and training costs)
• Space for wheelchair access
• Extension (typically for a bedroom or bathroom to accommodate a person with a disability)

Once a grant has been approved by the Council, the responsibility lies with the homeowner to have the approved works carried out, and to then submit claim for grant once works are completed.

More information on the schemes is available on the Council’s website  www.sdcc.ie

Details of number of grant applications made in 2022, 2023 & 2024 to date in the Lucan/Palmerstown/North Clondalkin area is set out below:

Year	Number of applications
2024 (to date)	136
2023	101
2022	65

The average time to process a Housing Adaptation Grant submitted complete with all required information is 6 weeks.