Sheehan slams Housing Adaptation Grant funding failure
Sheehan slams Housing Adaptation Grant funding failure - The Labour Party
- Government asleep as Limerick halts grant scheme
Labour’s Housing Spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has hit out after Limerick City and County Council was forced to pause Housing Adaptation Grant applications, having run out of funding for 2025 already.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“This grant is not a luxury – it is a lifeline for many people in Limerick and across the country. It enables people to live safely and independently in their own homes. We have seen time and again how the scheme can be transformative – yet it is chronically underfunded. The fact that Limerick has had to stop accepting applications midway through the year is proof that this scheme is not working as it should.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen this situation arise, and unless serious funding is committed, it won’t be the last. Housing adaptation grants play a crucial role in supporting older people and people with disabilities to live at home with dignity.
“The Department’s own review of the scheme acknowledged the need for expanded eligibility and updated income limits. A revised scheme was introduced, but the Government has not backed this up with real investment. The tokenistic increase announced by Minister James Browne simply doesn’t go far enough – it won’t cover the rising cost of building works or meet the scale of unmet need.
“We in Labour have consistently called for the Housing Adaptation Grant limits to be increased to €60,000, and for income thresholds to be indexed to reflect today’s reality. People are being denied access to basic, life-enhancing modifications – such as stairlifts, accessible bathrooms or ramps – because this Government refuses to plan properly or fund these schemes at the level required.”