Mayo council grants for elderly and disabled remain open

COUNCIL grants for housing adaptations and repairs for the elderly and people with disabilities in Mayo remain open.

Further funding has been sought by Mayo County Council from the department, councillors, who had expressed fears that monies were running out, have been told.

Elected members were critical of management over the lack of communication about what was happening with the schemes having been told there was just over €400,000 left in the budget for works for the rest of the year. They had learned that a letter had been issued to each district 'confining' the monthly spend.

The grants are used for things like bathroom upgrades, wet rooms, stair lifts, mobility aids and roof repairs. Eighty per cent of the funding comes from government, with 20% from the council.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, at a meeting this week, said if funding was an issue they would have to apply to the department and, if necessary, introduce a supplementary budget at council level.

Director of services Tom Gilligan clarified that an application was made on July 17 for an additional €400,000.

This is a priority scheme, he added, and the works have to be necessary to keep a person in their home.

Chief executive Kevin Kelly said the scheme in its entirety sees demand exceeding the budget and they have to live within their budget.

The extra funding applied for brought the available budget up to €1 million from now to December and they would prioritise the cases to ensure people can remain in their homes.

He stated: “The scheme is open and we are accepting applications.”

Councillor Jarlath Munnelly commented that there had been a failure to monitor budgets properly. However, he was confident the request for additional funds will be acceded to.

Councillor Donna Sheridan said it was time to 'get back to basics', highlighting the gulf in spend by the council on its IT systems compared to this, which is something that keeps vulnerable people in their homes.

Councillor Seamus Weir felt the 20% funding the council had to come up with was a big burden on the local authority and he suggested it should be government policy to reduce that to 15%.

Anomalies in various grants were highlighted by Councillor Adrian Forkan. He had a constituent with health issues who was approved an SEAI grant after two years for exterior insulation and windows. But they won't do the two doors.

This would probably then have to fall back on the council.

How it was all done made no sense to him, he commented.

Members reiterated the importance of the grants and the council's housing strategic policy committee is to look at the scheme now and going forward.