More than a quarter of a million euro in funding has been secured for the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme in Westmeath, according to local Fine Gael TD, Peter Burke.
The Disabled Persons Grant Scheme provides funding for extensions and adaptations to existing social housing stock, such as grab rails, disabled access ramps, and wet rooms, for example. The scheme also provides extensions in cases of overcrowding.
In addition, the scheme provides funding for improvement works in lieu in order to improve or extend privately owned accommodation where the occupant is already approved for social housing, reducing the strain on current social housing stock.
Deputy Burke said: “I am delighted to announce that Westmeath will benefit from €269,871 in funding through the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme.
“Some €242,884 will be paid by the Government through the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, with an additional €26,987 coming from our local authority, Westmeath County Council.
“This will greatly improve the housing conditions for those living with disabilities and addresses issues of overcrowding in existing social housing stock, while Improvement Works in Lieu provide an alternative to social housing for approved social housing applicants currently in private accommodation.
“I am very pleased my Fine Gael colleague Minister Eoghan Murphy has allocated funding of a total of €12million nationally under this scheme. The Minister has assured me he will continue to keep the scheme under review and will consider providing further funding later in the year if the need arises.”
