Older people can’t avail of anything

THE continued lack of Housing Grants for older people from Sligo County Council was sharply criticised by Mayor of Sligo Municipal District Fianna Fáil Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady.

The grants, which were specifically for older people needing to do minor house upgrades, has not been offered by the Council for several years now and 2019 looks set to be no different.

Members were told that the only two housing grants to be offered next year were the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability and a Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme.

“I think it’s something we should keep highlighted. We’ve a whole group of people now who can avail of nothing,” said Cllr O’Grady.

“It’s something we should keep on the table. The older people are entitled to some grant aid. We’ve always had it and it’s gone now and there’s not a word about it,” she told the meeting.

The Council has plans to spend ¤1.6 million on the mobility and disability grants next year, ¤320,000 of which (20%) is provided from the Council’s own revenue resources.