The housing grant schemes introduced by the Department of Environment to codify the old emergency repair grant, disabled persons grant, and the special housing aid for the elderly in 2007 has caused such a backlog in payments and approvals that Mayo County Council is to reduce the amount of grant aid offered in an attempt to clear the backlog.
Currently there are €990,000 in applications approved but not yet paid out, and another €5 million of applications pending approval in the county and it is estimated that by the end of the year there will be €6 million in applications pending approval. The council estimates there will be a shortfall of €3.2 million to deal with all applications at the current level by the end of the year and the waiting time for approval will increase significantly from the current time of 18 to 24 months if action isn’t taken.
There are three grants on offer, the mobility grants scheme, housing adaptation grant scheme for people with a disability, and housing aid for the elderly. The former of the two older grants were operated by local authorities, the latter wby the HSE. The current grants are all operated by the local authority with 80 per cent of the funding coming from the Department of Environment, and the council making up 20 per cent of the funding.
To help clear the backlog the housing SPC of Mayo County Council chaired by Cllr Eddie Staunton recommended that the maximum allocation to applicants be reduced by 25 per cent to come in line with the current savings that can be made in reduced building costs. The new maximum grant for housing aid for the elderly is now going to be €8,400, mobility aid grant schemes €4,800, and housing adoption grant scheme for people with a disability will be €24,000.
The motion was proposed by Cllr Eddie Staunton and seconded by Cllr Annie May Reape. Independent Castlebar based councillor Michael Kilcoyne said he was “totally opposed to these proposed cuts as it was cutting services to the most vulnerable.”
Incoming county manager Peter stated, “We are trying to square a circle with the limited funds we have. Prices have dropped substantially in the last 18 to 24 months and we’re trying to do our best by everybody. We have been prioritising emergency cases and we will continue to do so.”
