The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
KERRY TO GET €2.5M IN ‘VITAL’ GRANT-AID
FUNDING TO HELP ELDERLY AND DISABLED ADAPT THEIR HOMES
KERRY’S slice of a €73.75 million national fund to help vulnerable people adapt their homes to their needs has been welcomed across the board as a ‘vital’ aid.
Chairperson of the Listowel Municipal Area Mike Foley (Fine Gael) said the grants would ultimately help people from the elderly to those with disabilities – to remain independent for longer.
Kerry County Council now has €2.5 million at its disposal here to administer a scheme that will see individual grantaid of up to €30,000 for the disabled; €8,000 available for the elderly, and up to €6,000 for those in need of mobility aids.
“Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien has announced allocations to local authorities worth a total of €73.75 million in 2020 for Housing Adapation Grants,” Cllr Foley said.
“These grants are vital as they enable older people and people with disabilities and mobility issues in Kerry to remain living independently in their own homes for longer should they wish and will also facilitate early return from hospital.
The fund involves authorities topping-up the State’s majority provision. “The grants are 80 per cent funded from the exchequer by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with 20 per cent funding from the relevant local authority,” Cllr Foley explained.
“I am delighted that Kerry County Council has a combined total of €2,568,365 to support vulnerable people in Kerry with the necessary requirements they need to live in their homes.
“Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability in carrying out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs, up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out and up to €6,000 for mobility aids to address mobility problems for a member of the household.”
He said the grants would also come as a boost for tradespeople in Kerry charged with the adaptation works.