€2,250,625 in funding will be made available through Waterford City & County Council for the Housing Adaptation Grant in Waterford.
Older people, people with disabilities and mobility issues can apply to the scheme for grants of up to €30,000 to enable home adaptions to ensure certain aspects of their home environment are more suited to facilitate their specific needs.
This avenue of funding also plays a crucial role in enabling people with a disability and people who are reaching that stage in life when they may be experiencing limited mobility, to continue to live independently in the familiarity of their own homes. The Housing Adaptation Grant is 80% funded from the exchequer by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with 20% funding from the relevant local authority.
The news has been welcomed by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler (Fianna Fail) and Senator John Cummins (Fine Gael).
Minister for Mental Health & Older People Mary Butler stated: “This is a very effective funding stream which can make a real difference in the everyday life and general standard of living for older people, those with mobility issues and people with disabilities, all of whom may have complex needs which require costly home adaptions. In supporting independent living and facilitating early returns from hospital through such home adaptions, we can also help reduce the dependency on our health services. These grants will also provide a welcome boost to local economies, creating employment opportunities for local contractors."
Senator Cummins said: “This is both good news for people who need and deserve the support to live in their own homes for as long as possible, and is also positive in terms of reducing dependency on our health service. Fine Gael is working to build stronger safer communities and it is important we support people to live in their own homes for as long as they possibly can. These grants have a really positive impact on the quality of life of the people who benefit from them and they play an important role in helping people with a disability and people who are reaching an age in life when they are less mobile, to continue to live independently in their own homes. Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability in carrying out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs, up to €8,000 to assist older people to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out and up to €6,000 for mobility aids."
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