Housing Adaptation Grants

Fingal County Council has been allocated a total of €1,636,621 from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to fund the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Housing Grant, and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant Schemes during 2013, of which €327,324 is to be provided from the Council’s own resources. This is a reduction of €435,755 from the 2012 allocation. From the 2013 allocation a sum of €1,137,151 has been paid and/or committed to date in respect of 119 applications leaving a balance of €499,470 to be used for grant aid by the 31st December, 2013.

Fingal County Council currently has 294 applications for grant aid on hand in respect of all three Schemes. Due to the high level of demand under the three Schemes and the finite resources currently available priority is currently being afforded to Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and the Mobility Aids Housing Grant Schemes, Applications under these schemes are being prioritised by the Chief Medical Officer in accordance with the guidelines set out in the notification from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government outlining Fingal County Council’s 2013 allocation. 75 applications have been received to date during 2013 and applications continue to be accepted.

AnnMarie Farrelly
Director of Services
Housing and Community Department
Fingal County Council

“Lack of detail has given rise to concerns of closures/downgrades”

Councillor David McGuinness has cautiously welcomed today’s announcement that the Minister for Health plans to establish hospital groups ahead of formally developing Independent Hospital Trusts. However, the Fianna Fáil Dublin West councillor has criticised the lack of detail and calls on the HSE, the Minister for Health and the two local Ministers from Dublin West to make commitments to 24-Hour A & E services currently at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.

“The report is quite detailed in certain parts when it clearly supports full retention of services in places such as Wexford, Kerry and Letterkenny. However, no such commitment if offered to Dublin-15 residents as they are asked to agree to an amalgamation between Beaumont and the Rotunda. Dublin West needs commitments on this issue. Anything short of this is meaningless. This plan will be a disappointment to the people of Dublin 15 and the wider area in absence of an immediate comment from the Ministers and/or the HSE,” outlined McGuinness.

“I would welcome an initiative that improves health provision in West Dublin. This report goes some of the way towards achieving these goals. This plan can not be a smoke screen for further cuts to Health care and without a clear commitment to the retention of 24-hour A&E at Connolly, these fears and anxiety will remain with the people of Dublin West,” concluded McGuinness.

Just letting you know that Enrolment for the new Educate Together Secondary School in Hansfield, Dublin 15 is opening on Monday May 13th.

As you know the new school, Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School will open its doors for the 2014/15 academic year in a new premises in Hansfield, Dublin 15. The school building is currently in the planning process and construction of this building will be starting soon.

Enrolment is currently only open to students who will be in first year in the 2014/15 academic year. That means that only the parents of students currently in fifth class in primary school should fill out application forms.

Application forms are available from Monday May 13th from www.hansfieldsecondary.ie

The closing date for applications is Friday September 27th. Please feel free to forward this email to any parents you know who might be interested in this.

For further information check out www.hansfieldsecondary.ie