New €2.4m funding for Laois Older and Disabled People

OLDER and disabled people across Laois are to receive over €2.4million in newly announced state funding.

The Laois Funding is a part of a national €129.5 million in exchequer funding being earmarked for Housing Adaptation Grants; nationally, the funding is slated to deliver around 17,000 grant claims.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, along with Minister of State with responsibility for Older Persons, Kieran O’Donnell TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins TD, announced the funding which represents an overall increase of €30m for the grant – a fund which has grown year-on-year since 2014.

The scheme is designed to help older people and disabled people live independently in their own homes. Under the scheme, grants of up to €40,000 are available to assist disabled people in carrying out the necessary work to make a home more suitable for their needs. Additionally, grants of up to €10,700 are available to assist older people to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out on their homes and grants of up to €8,000 are available for mobility aids.

Kieran O’Donnell, Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, said: "These Housing Adaptation Grants have a really positive impact on the home life of many older and disabled people and play a critical role in helping them to continue to live independently."