Ten per cent more elderly and disabled householders in Galway city will be able to access grant aid to adapt their house this year compared to 2013.
This is the view of Labour city councillor Billy Cameron who has welcomed a €38 million national increase in funding for housing adaptation grants for the elderly and the disabled, recently announced by Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan.
The Galway City Council will be allocated an extra €30,718 from the final amount from last year-providing local authority houses in the city with €448,222 for housing adaptations. Minister O’Sullivan also expects to be in a position to make additional funds available to this grant in July.
The maximum grant remains at €30,000 for disabled people and at €6,000 for those with mobility issues. There have been changes to the criteria for elderly people with the eligible age for the grant increasing from 60 to 66. However, people under 66 who require support can apply for assistance through the mobility grant or, if appropriate, the disability grants.
Detailed guidance for Galway City Council will issue in the coming weeks. Cllr Cameron added: “I wish to stress that no one will be prevented from receiving grant support due to an inability to pay.”
