Vital Council Grants Schemes come to an end
Issued : Thursday 30 July, 2009
Reacting to the news that Dublin City Council has ended its Housing Grants schemes as of 17th July 2009, Local Labour T.D Róisín Shortall expressed her disbelief and that such a retrograde step has been taken.
'Both the Housing Aid for Elderly People Grant Scheme and the Housing Adaptation Grant scheme were of huge benefit to thousands for home owners throughout Dublin City as a whole.'
'Both schemes allowed for elderly home owners to adapt or upgrade their homes where it was not financially feasible in the past. These schemes brought heat, insulation and, above all, they allowed many elderly people to continue to live in their homes, where previously they would have had to enter a nursing home, at great expense to the state.'
'It is not acceptable that no notice was given to the public before the July deadline. Many people in touch with my office had spent several weeks putting their applications together only to be informed that they had missed the deadline.'
'I am very disappointed that such a decision was taken, I do however, welcome the fact that Dublin City Council intends to honour all applications submitted before the July 17th deadline.'
