Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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1175.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government with regard to home adaptation grants, if there are plans to include MS sufferers amongst those eligible for adaptation grants, which would greatly benefit them in being able to live independently for longer in their own homes. [33309/24]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.

The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and the Mobility Aids Grant is available for the carrying out of works of adaptation that, in the opinion of the local authority, are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for a member of the household who has an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability. In general, it can be used for works such as level access showers, accessible bathrooms, access ramps, stair lifts or extensions. Having considered all of the circumstances in any particular case, it is a matter for the local authority to determine grant eligibility.