George Lawlor Raises Alarm Over Housing Adaptation Grants
George Lawlor raised concerns in the Dáil about housing adaptation grants, saying applications are being accepted but funding sanctions are not being issued except for medical priority one applicants. He warned that a recent €10,000 increase to the grant has not resolved delays or access to essential works.
He told the Taoiseach that, based on conversations with former colleagues in Wexford County Council and other councillors, there is a serious difficulty in getting adaptation grants sanctioned while applications remain accepted across the country.
He listed access ramps, wet rooms, rails and replacement of dilapidated windows and doors as common adaptations that remain difficult to get funded, stressing these improvements are a big deal for older people.
He said that in County Wexford, if an applicant is not classified as medical priority one they will face serious difficulty and may be told to wait for years to access a council grant.
In reply the Taoiseach acknowledged the grant had been increased and confirmed the scheme was being kept under review, calling the housing adaptation grant a very important measure that will continue to be monitored.
Alleged funding shortfalls
He told the Taoiseach that, based on conversations with former colleagues in Wexford County Council and other councillors, there is a serious difficulty in getting adaptation grants sanctioned while applications remain accepted across the country.
Examples of affected works
He listed access ramps, wet rooms, rails and replacement of dilapidated windows and doors as common adaptations that remain difficult to get funded, stressing these improvements are a big deal for older people.
Local impact in County Wexford
He said that in County Wexford, if an applicant is not classified as medical priority one they will face serious difficulty and may be told to wait for years to access a council grant.
Government response
In reply the Taoiseach acknowledged the grant had been increased and confirmed the scheme was being kept under review, calling the housing adaptation grant a very important measure that will continue to be monitored.
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Transcript
Thank you. Taoiseach, I would like to raise with you the issue of housing adaptation grants and the funding that has been made available across the country, from speaking to former colleagues in Wexford County Council and some of the officials there, and colleagues from around the country here in the Chamber, there seems to be a serious difficulty in terms of funding for the adaptation grants whilst applications are being accepted. Unless you are a medical priority one, there does not appear to be any hope in the near future of receiving sanctions for grants, whilst I appreciate the grant was raised and a most welcome increase by €10,000, it is still very difficult to get a lot of the work done. But certainly in the context of things like access ramps, wet rooms, rails, replacement of dilapidated windows and doors, which, as you know, can appreciate for older people is a big, big deal, the notion that they are being told to wait for years, I know in County Wexford if you are not priority one, you will suffer serious difficulty in accessing a grant from the Council for this. I would like you to respond. Thank you, Tisha. Thank you. The grant for the housing adaption grants was increased, it has been kept under review, it is a very important grant, so it is something that we will be keeping under review as we go ahead. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.