Co. Wexford Sinn Fein Cllr. Tom Forde has this week questioned the current waiting list for the Housing Adaptation Grant, which supplies necessary funding to older residents and people with disabilities in order to carry out essential work on their homes to ensure the homes are fit for purpose.

While Priority 1 cases are treated on an urgent basis, the waiting time for Priority 2 cases was increased in December 2019 to 18 months, which represents a further 6-month increase on the previous year.

Cllr Forde said:

“We have vulnerable and infirm residents around the county who need this Grant support to adapt their houses to an acceptable living standard. These are not wishlists or home improvements, they are vital housing adaptations, such as stair-lifts and wet rooms, for residents who may no longer have the ability to climb a stairs, or struggle to manoeuvre in and out of a bathtub. The original 12 months waiting period, while not ideal, was perhaps acceptable.

“I am in contact with two applicants for this grant, who had made their application in December 2018, and when I queried their application, I was told that there was a 12-month waiting list. When this had expired in December 2019, I was then told the waiting list had now been extended to 18 months due to funding issues. It strikes me as very unfair that a couple who are sleeping downstairs and washing downstairs because of their health conditions have continually had their expected timeframe for adaptation works extended. The 6-month extension was, to my knowledge, never made aware to us as Councillors during any budgetary meetings, nor did we vote or agree to any such extensions to this vital community support.

“I am also growing increasingly concerned that the waiting list for this type of council funding will continue to be delayed as a result of the current pandemic. The Council have confirmed to me that, due to the inability to carry out internal house inspections/work, there will be a further impact on this particular waiting period, the scope of which is still to be confirmed. This pandemic, while presenting new challenges, cannot be allowed to lessen the quality of life for people who are already struggling on a day-to-day basis. We must all work together to overcome these new challenges, especially for those in our society who are in the later years of their lives, and who need our help and support.”

Co. Wexford Sinn Fein have this week launched a social media campaign, supplemented by countywide newspaper advertisements, aimed at promoting the various phonelines and online supports available to older people during the pandemic.