Offaly's elderly and disabled are waiting two years for vital grants

THE fact that some elderly and disabled people in Offaly are having to wait about two years to receive vital grants for adaptation works in their homes was raised during a recent County Council meeting.

Cllr Tony McCormack, Cathaoirleach, told the meeting that the older and disabled population in the county “need these grants yesterday.

“Every day that passes is a day too long for them to wait. I am hearing of people waiting two years for their grant to be successful.

“This is unacceptable and isn’t practical.

“Sadly, they sometimes pass away before their grant is allocated.”

The Older People and Disabled Grant Scheme applies to works necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability.

This may involve minor adaptations such as stair-lifts, grab-rails, showers, wet-rooms, ramps etc.

It also provides funding for more major adaptations such as extensions (in the case of overcrowding), or the installation of a downstairs bedroom or bathroom.

Cllr McCormack tabled a motion at the meeting which called on the County Council to “review the Older People and Disabled Person Grant Scheme, to examine alternative sources of funding to increase the budget and to develop a feedback/ communication system to keep applicants informed. Furthermore, that Offaly County Council explore the feasibility of partnering with a local financial institution to create a community fund.

This fund would provide financial support to eligible homeowners awaiting their grants, helping to reduce delays in essential home adaptations for older persons and people with disabilities."

Cllr Declan Harvey commended Cllr McCormack on putting forward the motion. “It's a great idea,” he said. Cllr Fergus McDonnell agreed.

Cllr Aoife Masterson commented that in a better system there would be no need for ideas such as setting up a community fund. “The underlying problem is insufficient central government funding,” she commented.

“That is the elephant in the room which we are ignoring. We shouldn't have to seek a partnership with a local financial institution; we wouldn't have to seek such a partnership if there was an adequate system in place.”

Cllr McCormack said wishful thinking would not get them very far and the council should be practical and examine alternative sources of funding to increase the budget, including the possibility of outsourcing and partnering up with a finance company to help provide sufficient funding needed to tackle the issue.

“I am putting forward this motion today because I want us to be practical and I want the council to now start examining ways we can outsource finance to allocate funding to the older members of our community.

“I firmly believe that we could find a local financial institution to partner with and therefore set up a community fund which would support the eligible homeowners awaiting their grants.

“The implementation of such a fund would have great benefits and would cut waiting times. Implementing this fund will reduce delays, allowing our elderly or disabled constituents the essential housing adaptations they desperately need.”

Cllr McCormack also pointed out that the council needs to develop a feedback or communication system to keep applicants informed of their progress.

“We need to develop a communication system with our constituents and applicants so they can view the status of their application themselves.

“I will work tirelessly to deliver for the older and disabled constituents in my constituency and will stop at nothing to make sure they get what they deserve.”

His motion was passed by the Council.