Press Release

You are here: Home > News & Publications > Press Releases > NATIONAL DISABILITY BODY CALLS ON MINISTER TO ACT €10 MILLION IN HOUSING ADAPTATIONS REMAIN UNCLAIMED DESPITE DEMAND

NATIONAL DISABILITY BODY CALLS ON MINISTER TO ACT €10 MILLION IN HOUSING ADAPTATIONS REMAIN UNCLAIMED DESPITE DEMAND

Friday 15th September, 2006.

The national umbrella body representing all people with disabilities today called on the Minister for Environment and Local Government, Mr Dick Roche TD, to publish his long promised review of the Local Authority, Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs grants.

Speaking in advance of the organisation’s AGM, to be held at the Tullamore Court Hotel tomorrow (Saturday), Mr James McClean, national Chairperson of People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI), said:

“Ten million euro allocated to Local Authorities for these grants last year went unspent, despite a huge demand from people with disabilities.

“In some cases Local Authorities have used less than half of the monies allocated.

“And there are inordinate delays in people getting grants,” said Mr McClean.

“While the inability of people on very low incomes to meet the €2,000 shortfall in the grant is an issue in some cases, it does not explain away the unacceptable level of unaccessed entitlements,” he said.

“It is hard to credit that this is happening at a time when the Government has prioritised disability under the national disability strategy and the relevant Minister said, as long ago as January last, that a review of the scheme was being finalised.

“Over eight months later, that review is still awaited,” said Mr McClean.

He pointed out that it was established through Dáil question that in 2004, €17.6 million allocated for these grants was returned unspent to the Department of Environment and Local Government. This money would have enabled 1,000 homes to be adapted throughout the country.

The Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs grants enable people to modify their homes by building ground floor accommodation and toilets and the provision of stair lifts. They also assist elderly people to carry out repairs to their homes.

Ends

Further information:

National Office: (01)8721744

Back to top

<< Previous Press Release |Next Press Release >> | Back to index