New Grants for disabled, mobility aid and older persons

There is a range of new grants available from Westport Town Council for persons in Westport with disabilities, mobility difficulties and older people under a revised framework of grants aimed at addressing the accommodation needs of these groups.

Following a reorganisation of the grants schemes by the Dept of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Westport Town Council will be providing three new schemes, a Housing Adaptation Grant, a Mobility Aids Grant and a Housing Aid for Older Persons Grant.

During our recent Budget meeting Westport Town Councillors have made a provision to fund 20% of the cost of these grants with the Dept of Environment making up the balance. This is a great step forward in providing assistance to those with disabilities, mobility problems or those with substandard housing and we anticipate a high uptake on the grants from eligible persons in the town.

For persons with a disability there is a Housing Adaptation Grants which allows for a maximum grant of €30,000 to cover up to 95% of the cost of works is available to persons with a disability to assist in the provision or adaptation of their accommodation. The types of works covered under this scheme are the provision of ramps, downstairs toilets, stair lifts, accessible showers and adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access.

Under the Mobility Aids Grant scheme a maximum grant of €6,000 to cover up to 100% of the cost of works is available to persons with mobility problems and the types of work covered by the grant included the provision of grab rails, access ramps, level access showers and stair lifts. This grant is provided primarily for mobility problems associated with ageing.

The Housing Aid for Older People Grant is a revised scheme which amalgamates the provisions of the existing Essential Repairs Grant and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Schemes previously operated by the HSE and now run under the remit of the council. Under this scheme a maximum grant of €10,500 to cover up to 100% of the cost of works. This scheme aims to make habitable the homes of older people from the age of 60 years upwards and covers structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to/replacement of windows and doors, the provision of water, sanitary services and heating.

The schemes are to be administered for Westport Town Council by Mayo County Council and application forms are available at Westport Civic Offices on the Ballinrobe Road or directly from Westport Town Councillors.