Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 174 together.

Under the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Three separate schemes are available as follows:

(i) Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (HAG)which assists people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. Grants for up to €30,000 are available for works including the provision of access ramps, stair lifts, accessible toilet and shower facilities, wheelchair access and extensions,

(ii) the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (MAG)is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works,

(iii) the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP)provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, rewiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting etc.

The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants under the various grant measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. In the case of an application under the HAOP, it is a matter for the local authority to determine, on a case by case basis, the level of structural repairs that may be necessary to the person’s home, including the nature and extent of any repairs required to remediate damaged or decaying roof structures. Similar discretion applies in the case of an applicant under the HAG where roof structure repairs are deemed necessary to meet the accommodation needs of the applicant.

It should be noted that separate from the grant measures outlined above, grant assistance may be available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in respect of energy efficiency retrofitting works to prevent heat loss from a dwelling.