The government has made €73.75 million available in 2020 for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability living in private houses.
Of that, €1,231,728 will go to Laois. That funding is split 80% to 20% between exchequer and local authority.
€985,382 is provided through the exchequer while the remaining €246,346 comes through local authority.
The increased funding continues to support home adaptations for older people, people with a disability and people with mobility issues.
It will enable older people and people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own homes for longer should they wish and will also facilitate early return from hospital.
Announcing the allocations, Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “I am pleased to be in a position to increase the funding again for this important scheme in 2020, with all local authorities receiving an increase in funding compared to their 2019 allocation.
“These grants have had a huge impact on the quality of life of the many beneficiaries and play a vitally important role in helping people with a disability and people who are reaching an age in life when they are less mobile, to continue to live independently in their own 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.
The grants are 80% funded from the exchequer by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with 20% funding from the relevant local authority.
The grants also create employment opportunities for builders and local businesses and help reduce the dependency on our health services by supporting independent living for as long as possible.
Minister O’Brien said: “I am confident that today’s allocation will demonstrate the Government’s continued commitment to older people and people with a disability and is in line with commitments made in the Programme for Government.”
SEE ALSO – Coronavirus: One new death and 40 new cases but none in Laois for a second time since lockdown
