13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Over €1.3m allocated to Leitrim for grants to allow older and disabled people to live independent at home
Leitrim County Council has received a 37% increase in exchequer funding for 2025, rising from €849,000 in 2024 to €1.16m in 2025.
When combined with the contribution from the local authority, Leitrim County Council has a total budget of €1.36m for the grant.
Following a review completed last year, the Government has also introduced significant improvements in the grant.
This includes an increase in the maximum level of Housing Adaption Grant for Disabled People to €40,000 (an increase of €10,000), an increase in the maximum level of the Housing Aid for Older People Grant to €10,700 (an increase of €2,700); and an increase in the maximum level of the Mobility Aid Grant of €8,000 (an increase of €2,000).
The increased level of funding available in 2025 will continue to ensure delivery of these vital grants and empower local authorities like Leitrim County Council to further assist older and disabled individuals in living independently within their own homes.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, Minister with Responsibility for Older Persons, Kieran O'Donnell and Minister with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins announced the funding allocations.
Announcing the funding, he said, "Having met many grant recipients across the country, I've witnessed at first-hand the remarkable difference they make in empowering older and disabled individuals to live independently at home for longer.
'These grants also support local economies, creating employment opportunities for local contractors.'
Minister with responsibility for Older People, Kieran O'Donnell said his absolute priority is to enable individuals to continue living in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.
'Today's funding announcement is a further positive step towards achieving this.'
Minister with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins said, 'I want to compliment local authorities for the key role they play in administering the grants, including assessing applications and arranging home inspections where adaptations are proposed.
'Through this work, local authorities are empowering older and disabled people in their daily routines enabling them to maintain their independence within their own homes.'
The Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People) Regulations 2024 provided the legal basis for the introduction of the recommendations set out in the review completed in 2024.
The key changes included an increase in the grant limits of over 30%, an increase of 25% in the income thresholds for eligibility. The legislation also adjusts the burden sharing for local authorities by reducing the local authority funding contribution to 15% (from the existing 20%).
