Housing Adaptation Grant funding of €1.3m will help more Longford people stay in their homes

Longford / Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty has welcomed the allocation of almost €1.3 million in funding for Housing Adaptation Grants in county Longford.

The Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and Disabled People assists with the necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works in order to make the accommodation more suitable to the needs of older and disabled people supporting them to live in their homes.

In total €93 million worth of funding has been announced, which will deliver 13,000 grants nationwide.
80% of the grant comes from Exchequer funding through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The remaining 20% in funding comes from the relevant local authority which administers the scheme.

Deputy Flaherty said: "I am delighted that my party colleague and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien, has allocated increased funding this year of €1.295 million to ensure delivery of these much needed grants which will allow Longford County Council to continue to support older and disabled people to live independently and in their own homes.

"Fianna Fáil in Government wants to empower and enable people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible – these grants help us to do just that. They also provide a boost to our local economy, creating employment opportunities for local contractors.”

Deputy Flaherty concluded by saying that grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist disabled people carry out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs. Additionally, grants of up to €8,000 are available to assist older people to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out on their homes and grants of up to €6,000 are available for mobility aids.