Councillors in Laois furious over new conditions to apply for grants

A LAOIS councillor has demanded directives that had come down from various government departments, regarding grants to be clarified and rescinded.

What prompted his ire, was what he described as, “the lack of progress in retrofitting marionettes and houses in Mountmellick especially for the elderly in the community.” 

Speaking at a recent meeting of Laois County Council cllr Paddy Bracken said: “I hate repeating myself, but I said before, I’m disappointed to see so many marionettes and council houses in Mountmellick with bad windows, no proper heating systems and no proper insulation in them. And I don’t see it on the council’s retrofit programme of works in 2025. I think it’s wrong for elderly people and a lot of them have mobility issues as well. I want to see that addressed.” 

He said: “There’s a directive now that we can’t give a grant to replace an oil burner, gas burner or a solid fuel stove. There were grants available for these up to now. What happens now if somebody’s oil burner is gone? They now can’t get a grant to replace it. If a gas boiler switch goes, they can’t get a grant to replace it. If a solid fuel cooker goes in the morning, you can’t get a grant to replace it.

“I’m asking Laois County Council to write to the department to seek clarification on this. That directive should be rescinded straight away. How are elderly people going to survive cold winters? What’s the alternative for them?” 

Cllr Bracken also said: “In regards to grants. Before, a proof of income was a pension slip or a statement from you bank was acceptable. That’s all done away with now. What happens now is the elderly person has to contact the social welfare office to get a statement of their income. Then they have to get a statement of liability from the previous tax year from revenue. You have also to register your PPS number, mobile or landline number and or email address. How in the name of God can an elderly person who hasn’t access to computers never mind an email do this? That’s another issue I want ratified and clarified from the department.” 

Cllr Aisling Moran said: “We see people who are saying that they’re getting €12,000 in grant, but the council is telling them that it can only give them €6,000. I’ve gone to five different builders to see if I could get prices for people and all are coming in at the same price. Something has to be done. Kildare are giving more on their grants that what is being given by Laois County Council.

“There’s people in desperate need of their bathrooms being done. They need grants to have them put up. They can’t afford to have them done with the grants on offer. They’re told it’ll cost €20,000 but they only have €12,000 and can’t afford the additional €8,000.” 

While cllr Bracken described the grants in Laois “as very generous,” he said: “I’ve yet to see anyone not get a grant in terms of their income. They might be a bit of delay in them being paid out. But, I have never seen anybody that was in need, or ever been short-changed by the council.” 

“That may be the case,” said cllr Moran, “but I have people in dire straits, they can’t get the grants because the prices are coming in way too high. The builders are telling me that if they can get €20,000 for doing the job in private houses and the council is only giving them €10,000 or €12,000, why would they do that work? They’re telling me they can’t do it at the prices the council is offering them.” 

“I agree that people have to pay money towards the work, but people don’t have that much money. One man I know was trying to make a decision whether to get windows or a bathroom in his house. He’s in his 90s. He needs a walk in shower, but he can’t afford it.” 

Cllr John King said that people are having “serious” problems filling out the new housing adaptation grant application forms.

Cllr Ben Brennan said: “They say that they get 100% of a grant. But when the application goes in the people are not getting 100%. They get an estimated price and the council comes along then and says that it’s too dear. Has the council somebody qualified enough to say it’s too dear? How do they know it’s too dear? Then they (council) say they’ll only give 100% of what they think it costs.” 

Cllr John Joe Fennelly said that with the new application grant forms looks for income, revenue and social protection information.

“In the meantime, and on a temporary basis” he said, “while we try and get this sorted, if an old age pensioner gets a copy of their pension receipts, that that should be accepted. Especially for those living in rural areas where there’s no broadband. Some people don’t understand what some of the terms on the forms mean. It’s hard enough trying to explain forms to some people, but they’re totally confused with these new forms.” 

Cllr Moran asked could the council not just pay the builder directly for the work, instead of the person having to go through should a long application process?

She said: “It’s so much work on an older person who may not understand the whole process of applying for grants. I think it would be easier for the council to get builders if they were being paid directly rather than them having to wait for the person to fill in all the forms.” 

 Cllr Bracken said that the builder can be paid directly, but that the recipient of the grant has to pay the VAT.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy said he knows of counties where people have to wait up to 18 months to receive grants and cautioned councillors, “be careful for what you wish for. I think we’re doing ok with our grants the way they’re going.” 

The council’s director of services Donal Brennan said that he fully understand how difficult it can be for some people to check issues with revenue but unfortunately the council is stuck with the conditions that come down to it and how people comply with those conditions.

Cllr Bracken proposed the council write directly to the department pointing out the issues of concern people are finding in relation to the grant application process and the replacement of stoves and boilers.