The Dáil Government has announced the level of spending for 2011 for Housing Adaptation Grants for older persons or people with a disability.

The provision for 2011 has been put at €79.46m, allowing for qualifying people to "improve or extend" their home.

Providing a fillip for the belagured building sector, the Department of the Environment figure will be even more benefical as it "does not include the expenditure by local authorities on improving and extending their own social housing stock".

Grants of up to €30,000 are available for improvement works and extensions to facilitate a person with a disability.

-- Advertisement --

Eligible works include provision of level access showers, installation of stair lifts, grab rails, access ramps etc.

The Mobility Aids Grant scheme is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. In the case of older people, a grant of up to €10,500 is available to assist householders to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes.

The Housing Minister Michael Finneran stressed the importance of the grants and said: "These schemes are vitally important in assisting older people and people with a disability to continue living in their own homes and communities with the comfort and dignity that they deserve.

"A great many people require only very modest supports to continue living independently, close to their families and friends, provided their accommodation is secure and appropriate to their needs."

(BMcC/GK)