Fianna Fail councillor Kevin O’Keeffe has roundly denounced the Government for slashing the allocation to Cork County Council for its housing adaptation grant scheme for this year by €1.69M. He’s branded the cut “a disaster.”

“I’m very disappointed. There are very many needy people for whom this is an invaluable grant. Reducing funding by 30% from last year is giving a thumbs down to people in need,” he said.

Describing the housing adaptation scheme as “very successful” he pointed out that, as well as providing a better quality of life for people with disabilities, it has the added benefit of providing work for small building contractors, effectively keeping some in business in these straitened times. He also said that there’s “a huge waiting list” of people who’ve applied to have works done under the scheme, many of whom won’t now have funding sanctioned because of the cutback.

“I’m calling on the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to reconsider this cut in funding,” Cllr O’Keeffe concluded.

The scheme assists older people, those with mobility problems and people with a disability or serious illness to make the necessary adaptations to their homes to accommodate their requirements.

Cork County Council is adding €920,000 from its own funds to the Government’s grand aid of €3.64M.