The lack of investment on housing adaption is putting extra pressure on housing lists, the Green Party have claimed.

Spokesperson on Local Government and Community, Cllr Malcolm Noonan, slammed the Department of Housing for the "unacceptably high waiting lists" for Housing Adaptation Grants for Local Authority tenants.

He said: "Many tenants who require adaptations to accommodate growing families, or because of age or disability can't afford to wait two years for their application to be processed, and are forced to push for housing transfers instead. This puts extra strain on the housing lists, when often small investments could keep people in their homes.

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"There seems to be a double standard at play here within the Department of Housing. When it comes to forking out large sums of money to subsidise private landlords through Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), the timeframe for processing applications is just weeks, while money for adaptation and renovation of existing Local Authority housing stock takes years to come through.

"Grants for housing adaptation were cut by 56% between 2010 and 2014 and still have not been restored to pre-2010 levels. The real effect of this is forcing many older tenants or tenants with disabilities to spend more time in hospitals and the care system due to living in houses that are not fit for their needs.

"It is simply unacceptable that tenants who's cases have been assessed as urgent and listed as Priority 1 under the waiting list, are waiting two years for their home to be adapted. In some cases tenants actually die waiting for the adaptation.

"This appalling situation must be considered when the Government review their 'Rebuilding Ireland' programme. The backlog must be tackled."

(CD/LM)