Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the outcome of the review carried out into the housing adaptation grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36968/24]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Can we get an update on the housing adaptation grant and the review that was carried out? We have been waiting for this for a long time and Deputies have been contacted by families that include older people and those with disabilities who have huge mobility issues-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It is very hard to hear.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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It is not because you are not loud enough. Everybody else is too loud.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is a matter of a timeline and we all know the issue. Even when people get the grant - in Louth County Council it is upwards of €30,000 - it might not cover what it takes to keep somebody in their home and do the works that are necessary. I am dealing with a daughter who is very worried about her mother. It is not only the backlog and how long Louth County Council will take, it is the fact that even €30,000 will not cover the works that need to be done, given the costs at the moment.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. We understand the importance of housing adaptation grants for people with disabilities, mobility aids and housing aids for older people. These grants are 80% funded by our Department. The Exchequer funded the provision of €74.5 million for the housing adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability scheme, which has increased by €8 million for 2024 continuing the year-on-year increase since 2014.

Housing for All commits to reviewing the housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. We hope to table amendments and publish the final report and update the relevant regulations in that regard. Among some of the changes will be in regards to considerations are the current income thresholds and grant limits.

My Department continues to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the report's recommendations with the aim of introducing amendments as soon as possible.