Grants to adapt for disability cut 40%

Grants to help older people and those with a disability to adapt their homes have been cut 40 per cent, the Department of Environment has confirmed.

The allocation for the grant, which covers 80 per cent of the cost of works, is being cut from €54 million last year to €35 million, it said.

The announcement comes as further bad news for the disability sector, which is bearing the brunt of cuts in the health services. It also follows the announcement last week by the Department of Health that it plans to axe the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant for those with disabilities.

Asked why the housing grant was being reduced so severely, a spokesman for Minister of State for Housing Jan O’Sullivan said there are reductions across the entire range of housing capital programmes this year.

The existing high level of contractual commitments under various programmes had to be prioritised, he said, but this restricted the funding available for other programmes.

“We are examining the terms and conditions of the suite of private housing grants, which will be amended to better target those individuals and families in most need. The details of which will be announced in the coming weeks,” she said.

Ms O’Sullivan has allocated €275 million in capital funding to city and county councils under the social housing investment programme this year.