Kildare Mother Says KCC Awarded Less Than 50% Of The Cost Of Modified Bathroom For Her Son.

Wednesday, 6 October 2021 12:48

Aisling McNiffe says the council has told her this €7,500 sum would cover 95% of the cost of the works, which she estimates at over €15,000.

A Kildare mother says the €7,500 Housing Adaptation Grant awarded to her to modify her home in accordance with her son's needs won't even cover the equipment required.

Aisling McNiffe applied to Kildare County Council for a grant of €15,000 to remodel her bathroom to install a hi-low bath, and other changes for her son Jack.

Jack is 16 has Down syndrome, a rare auto-inflammatory disease, has profound intellectual disability, is non-verbal, lives with arthritis and is a wheelchair user.

KCC granted half the required funding, and told Aisling that this would cover 95% of the cost.

Applicants are not required to submit quotes for the work, or equipment, as part of their submission.

The maximum grant is €8,000.

Aisling has been speaking to Kildare Today

I’m on @kfmradio in a few mins with Clem to discuss the ongoing saga of the housing adaptation grant for my son’s bathroom @KildareCoCo @ReadaCronin @lawlessj @CathMurphyTD @BernardDurkanTD #Disability #HousingAdaptation Tune in & Support if you can 🙏 @Sammlesie
— Aisling McNiffe 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️#Striving (@McNiffecent) October 6, 2021

Kfm Radio asked Kildare County Council to outline, without reference to the McNiffe case, how it decides the cost of a given project applied for under any Housing Adaptation Grant, and how it decides how much to award.

This was KCC's response: "There are three grants available under the National Application form for Housing Adaption Grant for Older People and People with a Disability, to help make their home safer and easier to get around.

This form is on our website and I’ve attached a link.

https://www.kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/Forms/Housing/Application%20Form%20%20Housing%20Adaptation%20Grants%20for%20Older%20People%20and%20People%20with%20a%20Disability%202021.pdf

The application form outlines the purpose of each grant, eligibility criteria and the amount for which a household can apply. "

Aisling McNiffe and Labour Cllr., Angela Feeney, joined Clem Ryan on Wednesday's edition of the programme

More from Local News

Defence Forces Conduct Readiness Exercise At Whitewater Shopping Centre In Newbridge

Previously, the Army's elite Ranger Wing has conducted training at the same location.
Call For Sanitary Bins In Men’s Toilets To Support Prostate Cancer Survivors

Audio

Each year, around 4000 men in Ireland are diagnosed with the disease, with research from PHS and the Irish Cancer Society finding more than half of men with incontinence feel anxious because of poor toilet facilities.
Own-Brand Foods Often Produced By Same Factories As Big Labels, Says Money Doctor John Lowe

Choosing own-brand products can also save money, with Lowe noting that many supermarket labels are produced by the same manufacturers as well-known brands.
Kfm Strengthens Position As Kildare’s Most Listened-To Station, According To Latest Ipsos/MRBI Report

Kfm CEO Clem Ryan said: “This latest research is a major reflection of the power of local radio, which showcases local issues , and where advertisers reach their target customers in real time."
Quarter Of Uisce Éireann Staff Earned Over €100k Last Year

Audio

Officials from Uisce Eireann are appearing before the Public Accounts Committee, outlining the company’s financial statements for 2024.
Meath Bird Flu Case Prompts Warning, But Chicken And Turkey Safe To Eat, Says Agriculture Minister

Audio

After confirmed cases in Carlow and Cork, the Department of Agriculture is imposing a mandatory order for all poultry and captive birds to be kept indoors from next Monday.
One-Month Road Closure In Catherinestown To Start Next Week To Facilitate Maynooth Pipeline Works

The road will shut from the junction with the L5050 at Catherinstown to the L1015 at Kellystown from November 10th to December 6th.
Commuter Chaos On M7/N7 Renews Calls For Standby Emergency Response Team During Morning Gridlock

Minister for Public Expenditure and Infrastructure Jack Chambers said he would ask Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Minister Of Transport to better resource the response to certain incidents.