€100m home improvement funding announced for most vulnerable

Green Party Leader and Minister for the Environment Minister for Housing has welcomed capital provision of €100 million for grants to improve or extend the private homes of older people and people with a disability in 2010. This does not include expenditure by local authorities on improving and extending their own social housing stock. The allocation represents a massive 31% increase on the initial allocations to local authorities in 2009.

Minister Gormley welcomed the funding against the backdrop of the tight constraints on the public finances for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. "These schemes are vitally important in assisting older people and people with a disability to continue living in their own homes and communities with the comfort and dignity that they deserve."

The Minsiter pointed out that a great many people require only very modest supports to continue living independently, close to their families and friends, provided their accommodation is secure and appropriate to their needs.

Expenditure under the Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme, during the lifetime of this Government, from 1997 to 2009, has totalled almost €674 million with more than 130,000 grants paid. Grants of up to €30,000 are available for improvement works and extensions to facilitate a person with a disability. Eligible works include provision of level access showers, installation of stair lifts, grab rails, access ramps etc. The Mobility Aids Grant scheme is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. In the case of older people, a grant of up to €10,500 is available to assist householders to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes. Over 130,000 older people or people with a disability have so far received grants to assist them in remaining in their own homes and in their own communities.

Schedule of allocations for the payment of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability for private dwellings is attached.