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 #VoteYesNo (@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
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