500 Kildare Housing Adaptation Grants Now On Hold – Murphy

In a statement Cllr Catherine Murphy revealed that more  than  500 applicants to Kildare County Council for   Housing Adaptation – Mobility Aids  & Essential Repairs Grant’s, made in 2008,   have had their applications  put on hold. 

While the Council are still accepting fresh applications,  those applying are being told they will not be processed until notification of funding has been advised by  the Department of the Environment.  Having rang around several local authorities Cllr Murphy states that  it appears  different approaches are being employed,  with some Council’s processing applications but advising applicants payment will not be made until Government advise them of their allocation,  others are releasing payment where applicants are deemed priority.

The scheme which was revised in Nov 2007 is means tested and  co-financed by the Department of the Environment & Local Government who provide 80% funding,  and Local Authorities who provide the balancing 20%.  

These grants are a  valuable  resource to both elderly and disabled people,  ensuring for many a genuine option  to live at home.   Having such a choice is in the persons own interest,  however,  it is also a more cost effective way of  caring for disabled and elderly people than the more expensive full time care options.  

A second aspect of the grant scheme is the work it provides to local contractors who inevitably carry out the work.   Given the current economic constraints which are effecting the entire country,  it’s essential that  whatever grants are available are distributed in an equitable way (a) to ensure equal access to the scheme (b) to generate much needed employment in a sector badly effected by the recession.

Kildare received the second lowest per capata grant from government amounting to   €1.9million in 2008,   has almost 7 times the population of  Leitrim who received €1.6m while Counties such as Donegal €4.2m and  Kerry €2.9m each have tens of thousands less population than Kildare.

“An urgent decision must be made to notify Local Authorities of the amounts they are to receive in 2009 however,  just as importantly the Department must ensure a fair allocation”.

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Posted by catherinemurphy on January 27, 2009. Filed under disAbility & Special Needs,Eldercare,Kildare,Political & Public Service Reform. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.