Councillor claims 8-month delay for house grants

DUBLIN CITY Council is taking eight months to process an application for a housing adaptation grant, up from four months in 2007.

That is according to Clontarf-based councillor Gerry Breen, who said the figures were revealed to him at a recent council meeting.

Council officials told Mr Breen it was "very difficult" for existing staff to satisfactorily handle the number of applications received.

In a written reply to the councillor, officials said every application under the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People was dealt with by order of date received. Further priority was given to the disability grants.

However, Mr Breen told The Irish Timesthe delays were causing unnecessary hardship to the disabled and elderly.

"It is terrible that many elderly people dependent on a stair-lift or special shower unit etc are waiting eight months to gain approval of a grant application.

"This does not include the length of time to get a builder in and get the work done . . . Having to wait up to a year to be able to navigate their homes or retain independent living is just not on."