Over €2.1m allocated to Offaly for Housing Adaptation Grants for older and disabled people

Offaly County Council has received a 36pc increase in exchequer funding for 2025, rising from €1.36m in 2024 to €1.84m, under the Housing Adaption Grants scheme.

When combined with the contribution from the local authority, Offaly County Council has a total budget of €2.17m for the grant.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, Minister with Responsibility for Older Persons, Kieran O’Donnell and Minister with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins this week announced allocations to local authorities of over €117 million for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People.

Nationally, the €99.5 million exchequer funding combined with the local authority contribution, represents an overall funding of €117m.

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Following a review completed last year, the Government has also introduced significant improvements in the grant including:

* an increase in the maximum level of Housing Adaption Grant for Disabled People to €40,000 (an increase of €10,000)

* an increase in the maximum level of the Housing Aid for Older People Grant to €10,700 (an increase of €2,700); and

* an increase in the maximum level of the Mobility Aid Grant of €8,000 (an increase of €2,000)

Commenting today Minister Browne said:

“The increased level of funding available in 2025 will continue to ensure delivery of these vital grants and empower local authorities like Offaly County Council to further assist older and disabled individuals in living independently within their own homes.

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Having met many grant recipients across the country, I've witnessed at first-hand the remarkable difference they make in empowering older and disabled individuals to live independently at home for longer.

These grants also support local economies, creating employment opportunities for local contractors.”

Minister with responsibility for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell said: “In my role as Minister of State with responsibility for housing for older people, my absolute priority is to enable individuals to continue living in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

“The funding announcement is a further positive step towards achieving this.”

Minister with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins said: “I want to compliment local authorities for the key role they play in administering the grants, including assessing applications and arranging home inspections where adaptations are proposed.

“Through this work, local authorities are empowering older and disabled people in their daily routines enabling them to maintain their independence within their own homes.”

The Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People) Regulations 2024 provided the legal basis for the introduction of the recommendations set out in the review completed in 2024.

The key changes included an increase in the grant limits of over 30%, an increase of 25% in the income thresholds for eligibility. The legislation also adjusts the burden sharing for local authorities by reducing the local authority funding contribution to 15% (from the existing 20%).