Family of ill woman angered over grant cuts

A NORTHSIDE woman is pleading with the Government to reverse its decision to cut funding for housing adaptation grants for old age pensioners and people with disabilities or mobility issues.

Dublin City Council has written to its councillors informing them that the grant for 2013 has been reduced by over 50 per cent.

Lisa Farrell hit out at the Government after her ill 77-year-old mother-in-law missed out on funding for central heating and a new bathroom.

Marie Farrell, from Millbrook Avenue, Kilbarrack, fractured her hip 11 weeks ago, which necessitated an emergency operation. Marie, a chronic asthmatic, has also had a couple of mini strokes in the past and is extremely frail.

“While Marie was in hospital I decided to see what help was out there,

? Lisa told Northside People.

“Firstly we tried to get a grant for central heating under the Home Improvements Grants Scheme.

“We were told that the deadline to apply was in January. It was a huge blow to miss out on it.

“We didn’t know anything about this deadline. We didn’t see it published anywhere. Marie has no heating except for a coal fire, and has no boiler for hot water.

“Then under the same scheme, we were looking to have the bathroom converted to make it more accessible. We were hoping to get a walk-in shower as part of the improvements.

“I then investigated the possibility of getting a stair lift. At the moment Marie is sleeping downstairs because she can’t make it upstairs.

“We received a letter two weeks ago from the city council stating that they were only willing to assess Marie for a stair lift/ramp, and it would not be possible to be assessed for the bathroom in 2013.

?

Lisa described the cuts to funding as an

“absolute disgrace

?.

“I don’t want to get old in this country if this is how you’re treated,

? she declared.

“At the end of the day, this is not just about my mother-in-law. There are so many more vulnerable people out there in similar circumstances.

?

Lisa is calling on the Government to restore the funding to the city council immediately.

“People’s health is at stake,

? she added.

“Marie had pneumonia before she went into hospital and we’re already concerned about how she will cope next winter without central heating, which is the biggest priority of all her needs.

?

A spokeswoman for Dublin City Council said it was with regret that it had to embark on this course of action but in the current budgetary conditions it was left with no alternative.

“The total funding available to Dublin City Council for the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People has been reduced by over 50 per cent to

?¬4,932,320 for 2013,

? she told Northside People.

“Payments of

?¬2,467,691 have already been made in 2013 under these three schemes and the value of unpaid approved grants as at April 3 is approximately

?¬3,458,019 (this sum may not all be spent, as some applicants may not proceed with their works).

“To ensure that uncommitted funds are distributed with maximum effect and to ensure that there are sufficient funds to deal with emergency cases, the following approach must now be taken:

“With effect from April 12 applications for Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People Grants will only be accepted from applicants who are of the highest medical priority.

“All new applications will now be screened by the Home Grants Office and only medical priority cases will be accepted.

“Existing applications where approval has not already been granted have been reviewed by the Home Grants Office to identify the cases of greatest medical need and those who have not been included in the high priority category will be informed that their applications cannot be approved in the current year.

“These applicants will be entitled to apply again in 2014 subject to funding and application evaluation.

?

When asked about Marie Farrell’s application, the city council said it couldn’t comment on individual cases.

Donaghmede ward councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha (SF) said the grants are desperately needed so that people can remain living in their own homes.

“Cutting them means that more older people will end up in nursing homes, at much greater expense to the State,

? he argued.

“It is also a false economy because it will hit employment in the construction sector. But above all it targets the elderly and the disabled in a cruel and heartless manner, all in pursuit of this Government’s futile austerity policy.”