Louth councillor slams lack of funding for housing adaptations

Cllr Pearse McGeough has hit out at delays in completing housing adaptations in Louth due to lack of funding from central Government.

Cllr McGeough raised the matter at the Louth County Council March meeting, having already raised the issue of funding for Housing Adaptation Grants (HAGs) at previous meetings.

In a statement to the Dundalk Democrat following the March meeting, the Sinn Féin councillor for the Ardee Electoral Area said, "I currently have an urgent case where the client has been told it would be around 22 months before he can get a boiler installed despite him having urgent medical needs. 

“I have other clients who are advised, as per the application process, to get quotations from certified builders, plumbers or whatever the nature of the works involved. How can the government expect these builders or plumbers or whatever to honour a quote that was given in good faith almost two years ago?

"With inflation and the rising cost of materials and labour, I don’t know anyone who would get work done and pay what they would have paid two years ago."

Cllr McGeough added, “the lack of investment which is causing long delays in the Housing Adaptation Grant and the Disabled Person’s Grant schemes is not sustainable and it is not morally right or fair on those who are most in need and most vulnerable.

“I have contacted the Minister on this before and have not even had the courtesy of a reply.”