Louth sees slight increase in 2024 Housing Adaptation Grant funding

Louth has been allocated €2,479,585 in funding for Housing Adaptation Grants (HAGs) in the county, an increase of €143,772, or 6%, on the €2,335,813 allocated last year.

The announcement was made today by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon TD.

Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People assist with the necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works in order to make the accommodation more suitable to the needs of older and disabled people supporting them to live in their homes.

80% of the grant comes from Exchequer funding through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The remaining 20% in funding is to come from Louth County Council.

Councillors in Louth had been informed in May of last year that applications to the HAG scheme in the county were closed to new applicants, due to the backlog of hundreds of applications already in, for which no funding was available.

The were subsequently told last September that the local authority aimed to reopen the application process open as soon as possible, but at that point Louth County Council was already dealing with a backlog of over 500 applications.

There are three grants available for older people and people with disabilities to help make their home safer and easier to get around. The grants are: Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People Grant. 

Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist disabled people in carrying out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs. Additionally, grants of up to €8,000 are available to assist older people to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out on their homes. Grants of up to €6,000 are available for mobility aids.