€59.8 million boost to housing adaptation grant scheme

€59.8 million is be made available for the Housing Adaptations for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme.

The investment allows for extensions to be built for people with a disability, as well as housing adaptations to improve mobility aid with grants of 80% being funded from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government, with an additional 20% funding coming from local authority budgets.

Grants apply to owner-occupied private housing, along with houses purchased under the Tenant Purchase Scheme, private rented accommodation, accommodation provided under voluntary housing schemes and accommodation occupied by persons living in communal residences. Speaking in May, the then Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney, said it provided a significant social benefit by facilitating citizens to continue the independent occupancy of their own homes.

“The additional funding which I am providing for this Programme in 2017 will allow local authorities increase the number of citizens they can support and, in addition, it will provide a boost to the construction sector nationally, with the benefits being spread to local economies across the country,” said Mr Coveney.

Meanwhile, Kerry County Council’s website states the type of work allowable under the scheme includes provision for access ramps, downstairs toilet facilities, stair-lifts, accessible showers, adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access, extensions and any other works which are ‘reasonable necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability’.