Slight increase in Housing Adaptation Grants for Kerry

KERRY is to receive around €92,000 extra as part of the 2018 Housing Adaptations for Older People and People with a Disability, that’s according to recent figures announced by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English.

The funds, which are allocated on an 80/20 basis between government and local authorities, equates to roughly €7,000 per month extra for the scheme in Kerry in 2018. At a recent announcement the government allocated €1.849 million, with Kerry County Council pitching in with €462.000, bringing the overall total to €2.312 million.

However, Kerry’s exchequer allocation in 2017 was €1,776,783, with Kerry County Council’s allocation amounting to €444,196.

Announcing the new allocations, Minister English said his was pleased to be in a position to increase the funding for this important programme, nationally, by some 11 percent. All local authorities will be getting an increase in 2018, he said.

Last year the exchequer set aside €59.8 million which this year has increased to €66.25 million.

The Housing Adaptation Grant helps people make changes and adaptations to their home making it wheelchair-accessible, extending it to create more space, adding a ground-floor bathroom or toilet or adding a stair-lift. Grants are available up to €30,000 for adaptations; up to €8,000 for housing aid for older people, and up to €6,000 for mobility aids.

The grant is suitable for a person with a physical, sensory/ intellectual disability or mental health difficulty and its primary aim is to enable older people and people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own homes for longer and also to facilitate early return from hospital.

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.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Disability Issues, Finian McGrath, TD welcomed the increased funding:

“I very much welcome this significant grant funding announcement which will assist many older people and also people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.”

For more information about applying for the grant call Kerry County Council. Phone: 066 71 21111.