Home Adaptation Grants need to keep in line with inflation. That's the message from Waterford Senator John Cummins, about three grants available under a government initiative.
The grants are put towards construction works carried out to make homes more suitable for older people, or those with a disability.
Speaking at a recent sitting of the Seanad, Senator Cummins says it's important that people can remain in their homes.
"What I am still looking for is that the grant amounts are increased and the criteria in terms of the means test widened, because what we want to ensure is more people with disabilities and older persons can remain in their homes for longer, and we all know that with construction inflation over the last few years that those grants are not going as far as they once were."
Currently, three categories of grants are available to older persons and those with a disability.
- · The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability assists people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs, or improvement works carried out to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs – a maximum grant of up to €30,000 is available which may cover up to 95% of the costs.
- · The Mobility Aids Grant is available to fast-track grants to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works – a maximum grant of €6,000 is available which may cover 100% of the cost.
- · The Housing Aid for Older People Grant assists older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant-eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, and provision of heating – a maximum grant of €8,000 is available which may cover up to 95% of the approved cost of works.
Senator Cummins continued, "The Mobility Aid Grant for €6,000 which is often used for the adaptation of a downstairs bathroom for an older person. To get that job now costs considerably more, and families are having to put quite a bit of money along with the available grant aid.
"I was ensured that a review of that was underway. We need to see it implemented and it's not just a case of increasing the grant amounts, we have to see the allocation allocated to local authorities.
"We don't want to just see a higher grant amount and fewer people getting it. What we want to see is a higher grant amount and more people able to avail of it, so I would ask for that debate to happen as early as possible."
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