RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Older people whose homes are in need of necessary repairs or improvements can now access grants of up to €8,000.
Additionally, grants worth up to €6,000 are also available for mobility aids, while up to €30,000 is available to support disabled people to carry out modifications on their homes.
It comes following today's (May 30) announcement of over €93 million in 2024 funding for 13,000 grants for older people (aged 66 and over) and disabled people.
It's hoped the grants - which can cover up to 95% of works - will assist with necessary improvement works to make accommodation more suitable for older and disabled people to live in their homes.
The funding is made up of €74.5 million exchequer funding combined with local authority contributions.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, said, "I am delighted that we are able to allocate increased funding in 2024 to ensure delivery of these much needed grants which will allow local authorities to continue to support older and disabled people to live independently and in their own homes.
"As I travel around the country I am regularly meeting and speaking with people who have received assistance through these grants and the difference they make in helping people to live independently for as long as possible is remarkable.
"These grants also support local economies, creating employment opportunities for local contractors and businesses which is very important."
Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon, added, "I am pleased that funding for our local authorities to administer this scheme has continued to increase year on year since 2014. This Government is committed to this scheme as these grants are fundamental in aiding older and disabled people in their daily lives.
"These grants have such a positive impact on the home life of the many beneficiaries and play a vital role in helping disabled people and people who are reaching an age in life when they are less mobile, to continue to live independently in their own homes.
"As Minister of State with responsibility for housing for older people and disabled people, I am fully committed to supporting individuals to remain at home and within their own communities for as long as possible. The funding announced today will facilitate this goal for many."
Applicants of the Housing Aid for Older People Grant will be assessed on the basis of all household income, ie. the annual gross income of all household members aged 18 years or over (or aged 23 years or over if in full time education) in the previous tax year.
The registered property owner’s income (and spouse) may also be included.
The maximum grants for €8,000 and €30,000 may be available to applicants with gross household incomes of up to €30,000 per annum, tapering to 30% for applicants with gross household incomes of between €50,001 to €60,000 per annum.
Meanwhile, the maximum grant of €6,000 may be available to applicants with gross household incomes of up to €30,000 per annum.
The same means test will apply in every local authority area and is in line with the criteria for assessment of need for social housing.
Works to improve housing for disabled people include the repair or replacement of a roof, upgrades to electrical writing, repair or replacement of doors and windows, and central heating works.
Other works for disabled people may include the installation of a ramp or other ways to access the home, grab rails, bathroom facilities like a downstairs toilet or accessible shower, a stair lift, space for wheelchair access, or a bedroom or bathroom extension.
You can get a copy of the relevant form from the Housing Grants Section of your Local Authority or their website.
The fully completed application forms should be returned to your Local Authority Office.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
