GRANTS that help older people and those with disabilities in Dublin City and Fingal have been cut by almost
?¬4 million.
Northside People has learned that Dublin City Council’s housing adaptation allocation for this year has been reduced from
?¬7.5 million in 2012 to
?¬4 million.
And Fingal County Council’s grant for housing adaptation has been slashed by almost
?¬400,000 for 2013.
The housing grant scheme covers 80 per cent of the cost of works required to meet the needs of disabled and elderly people.
The reduction in grants comes as further bad news for the disability sector, which is bearing the brunt of cuts in the health services.
It follows the recent announcement by the Department of Health that it plans to axe the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant for those with disabilities.
A spokeswoman for Fingal County Council confirmed that the total allocation for the Housing Adaptation Grants Schemes for 2013 is
?¬1,588,467.
“The total allocation for these grant schemes in 2012 came to
?¬2,072,365 and 248 grants were approved in 2012 to the total of the approved allocation,
? she stated.
A spokesperson for the Department of Environment said the allocation to each local authority would cover
“all commitments at a minimum
?.
“The allocations for this year have been apportioned across local authorities on a pro-rata basis to deal with the commitments they have,
? the spokesperson told Northside People.
“Dublin City Council was paid about $7.5 million last year in respect of its commitments to the Housing Adaptation Grants Scheme and the allocation for this year is just under $4 million.
?
Dublin North West TD Roisin Shortall (Lab) said the effect of this cut would be
“devastating
?.
“With this news, it is difficult to see how new applicants can be accommodated on the scheme,
? stated Deputy Shortall.
“The funding will mostly be taken up by people who already have applied.
“It seems certain that the council (Dublin City) will simply have to turn people away in 2013, which is an absolute disgrace.
“This is the very worst form of austerity. It deprives people of assistance when they genuinely need it to make their home habitable.
“It drives up costs in hospitals and nursing homes as people stay longer because of unsuitable living conditions at home.
?
Deputy Shortall said that as the grants were paid out to tax-compliant local contractors, these cuts would directly affect employment in this area meaning there will be higher welfare costs, less income tax collected, and less spending locally.
“Indeed, because of the nature of the schemes, most of the funding recycles back to the exchequer through income and sales taxes,
? she added.
Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty (Lab) described the reduction as one of those
“hidden, nasty cuts
? contained in Budget 2013 that the Government doesn’t want people to know about.
“For too long the Government has been slashing funding for services like adaptation grants and then hiding behind the local councils,
? he said.
“The housing adaptation grant is for older people or citizens with disabilities to have their home adapted so they can access bathroom facilities or get up the stairs.
“Staff working in this area will tell you that waiting lists are growing, applications are rising but funding is being slashed.
?
Deputy Nulty added:
“It is high time Government ministers stop hiding and justifying cuts of this nature that they signed off on and voted for which hurt vulnerable citizens.
?