Just over €2,312M in funding has been made available for older people and people with disabilities in Kerry for adaptation of their homes.
That’s according to Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin for who is encouraging local people to apply for the grants to help them stay in their own homes for longer.
Designed to Help
“Older people and people with disabilities in Kerry are going to benefit from new Government funding designed to help them adapt their homes to improve their mobility and access,” said Minister Griffin.
“This is to help people return home from hospital earlier, and also to support older people and people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as they wish.
Changes and Adaptations
“The Housing Adaptation Grant helps people to make changes and adaptations to their home to better cater for their needs. This could include making it wheelchair-accessible, extending it to create more space, adding a ground-floor bathroom or toilet or adding a stair-lift.
“Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability in carrying out necessary works and up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Up to €6,000 is also available for mobility aids.
Increase in Funding
“Fine Gael is working to ensure that the benefits of our economic recovery are felt by those who need it most. That is why my colleague, Minister Damien English, decided to increase the funding for this important programme by some 11% in 2018. Kerry County Council and all local authorities will be getting an increase for this fund in 2018.
Quality of Life
“The grants are 80% funded from the exchequer by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, with 20% funding from the relevant local authority.
“This is all about improving quality of life for older people and people with disabilities. It is also about helping them to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. This is good for the person in question and it is good for society as a whole.
Encouraging Constituents
“These types of schemes are also good news for the construction sector, helping to create jobs in that sector which of course also has a knock on positive effect for the Kerry economy.
“I hope to see good take up of the scheme by people who need it here in Kerry and I will certainly be encouraging constituents whom I know can benefit to apply for this scheme through the Local Authority,” the minister urged.
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