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STATISTICS REVEALED FROM a parliamentary question by Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen shows that the number of of grants for the elderly reduced from 7,138 in 2010 to just 1,739 so far in 2013.
“The government has drastically reduced the number of grants paid out for the Housing Aid for the Older Persons Scheme since it came into power,” said Cowen, who added that the figures revealed show the full scale of the cuts targeting older people across the country.
Grants
The figures detail the numbers of grants paid each year together with the monies recouped to the local authorities since 2010 in respect the Housing Aid for Older People (HAOP) and the Mobility Aids Grant (MAG).
These schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80 per cent recoupments available from my Department together with a 20 per cent contribution from the resources of the local authority.
In Dublin City Council the figures show that the HAOP grants in 2010 came to 527 - €1,481,399. This fell to 246 in 2011 – €875,136, falling to 182 in 2012 – €656,383 and further falling to 75 to the end of October this year, at €324,114.
Details of the numbers of grants paid each year together with the monies recouped to the local authorities since 2010 are set out in the following tables:
If you can’t see these figures, please click here.
Speaking about the figures, Cowen said “Housing Aid for Older Persons Scheme is a vital support to help older people adapt their homes to their physical circumstances”.
He added:
The rapid decline over the past three years has meant many older people are not getting the support they need to live in the homes they have worked all their lives for.The Government has failed to provide real resources to allow older people make the changes they need to continue living in their own homes for as long as possible.
Many people require only modest supports to continue living independently and securely close to their families and friends. These cut backs jeopardise that.
He said he was also concerned that the Environment Minister Phil Hogan is “back-tracking on his promise to ensure that 80 per cent of the property tax collected in an area goes towards local services in that area,” stating that local authority finances are struggling to come up with their 20 per cent of the costs of housing aid supports.
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Barry Cowen should head down to the pub in Clara and ask his brother why these cuts are being inflicted. He should also ask his brother why the last FF government made cuts to money given to blind people.
Sick of the amount of coverage FF are getting on thejournal.ie
Give me a thumbs up if you want to see less promotion for FF here.
Loads of promotion for junior FF gimps, yet no article on what the leader of a speech the leader of SF gave today.
So basically you’re angry because the journal isn’t pushing your personal agenda?
I dont mind once the site is not a one sided promotion for FF-FG.
Lar- the exposure SF gets on this site is extraordinary. The only thing more unashamedly obvious is the anti-Government agenda of the writers. Pearse Doherty has practical a direct line to their office. So quit with the whinging.
SF are up there in the polls so why shouldn’t they get a fair hearing.
I wonder how much of the €10k a month pension his brother gets does Cowen think could be diverted to the elderly?
Cowen and other FF reps could care less about old people in this country, care less about the young. They screwed these people for every penny they worth all throughout their lives, forced their children to emigrate.
The Cowens, Aherns, Lenihans, Micheal Martins, McGrath’s and their supporters are lower than the worst thing you’d find in Mountjoy. I view them as genuinely evil people.
Charlie i am not SF supporter but the real problem FG FF LAB have with them is they get some grip on power they will have some old scores to settle with the establishment down here and may expose some of the corruption .
So your a fine gaeler. Clarke shoes beige trousers. The pensioners will vote Ff again, I will vote SF. And hopefully we never hear of your evil party again.
There’s a lot more cuts to come! For everyone! Why? I hear you say. Because the majority of Irish tax payers are a spineless bunch and will keep taking it up the you know where for as long as it’s been given out.
Proof of that is the Local Property tax being diverted to pay for Irish water I’d imagine a few quid from the LOCAL property tax would help these old people…..
They even cut the hearing aid grant,shocking!
What????
What?
That joke only works if you are listening to something mark.
It could be possibly that you can’t read I suppose
WHAT!
What’s wrong with FF today? More amnesia and from a Cowan! Some cheek!
Barry Cowen estate agent. God help us.
Failed auctioneer/greyhound track quango member, now a latecomer to politics and an expert on everything.
Thanks Offaly.
Poor Barry lives in a fantasy world and still believes that the Celtic Tiger is alive and well and living in Dingle with Fungi.
The Celtic Tiger is still alive for Barry Cowen and his type. Moving effortlessly from state appointed Quango, to the Dáil and great wage/expenses, the publicity helps his business. When he retires his connections will get him a Directors job in a bank or building firm.
The Celtic Tiger is dead though for his voters and their children having to leave for Australia but as FF delegates at the RDS said to those queing for the jobs abroad expo “cheerio, cheerio”. He couldn’t care less.
Seriously. When Fianna Fáil spokespersons ever look at these Press Releases when they’re authorising their release, feel a bit embarrassed and thing to themselves “We have some nerve putting this stuff out bearing in mind we caused all these cuts.” No. Of course they don’t. Because FF is what it is.
FF have no shame, but lazy journalism also has no shame also.
The only thing that I want to hear from FF members and politicians is:
“I’m sorry I was such a dirty traitor and crook. I’m quitting politics and going to help the homeless for the rest of my life”
It looks like the goverment want the sick and elderly to immigrate as well.
Lucky for us Brian Cowen is now a consultant and could perhaps advise us how to get out the mess he presided over when he was supposed to be doing his job as Taoiseach.
The attack on the vulnerable continues unabated by this government who only song they can sing is the Merkel Waltz !!!! Enda being the tail that Germany wags and his reward for betraying the Irish people ? a commissioners job in Europe , he will never be let forget he destroyed this country for years to come !!!!
If elderly people can’t pay their way in this system, then sorry about you is the new philosophy. Its not as if we didn’t know this was coming, there is no pension reserve fund in any country left and with populations living longer, this had to be addressed. With the aluninium and barium in the atmosphere which attack the immune system, the massive increases in healthcare which are coming with TPP, rising energy and food prices expect the living age for poor and working class populations to decrease which is already happening in the states.
And what . . you think this govt cares about our elderly. Isn’t Kenny himself in line for thee different pensions when he retires. . why would these guys a give xxxx about anyone besides themselves. . Kenny , ae . . not doin bad for a failed school teacher.
Sorry people, but could the fall in grants be due to the claimants numbers have reduced as they got their houses fitted out with what they required. An interesting figure would be how many were turned down for grants.
It’s the same old guff. FG when in opposition wouldn’t hear tell of a property tax. FF wanted one. Now FG are in power they bring in the property tax and FF don’t want it. It’s like what they scream against when in opposition becomes a great idea once in power. They are all cut from the same cloth. And it’s all done for votes. Don’t think that voting in an opposition party will get you any changes. All it does is change the player, not the game. The hypocrisy is galling, sickening. And as always it is our elderly, young, disabled who suffer the most. The government needs to see that people won’t accept this anymore. But when your locality will come out in droves for a football match, yet stay on their couches for protests, I won’t hold my breath :(
Why can’t they pay their own way, just poor planning from where I see it. The problem is that the nanny state always steps in and these people play to that
The soldiers of destiny are increasingly in popularity and will probably be elected the next Government, which says a lot about the Irish people, short memories indeed. Meanwhle FG continues to favour the wealtly whilst hammering the underdogs and older people, fair what do FF FG Labour of their SF buddies know about fairness.
They are dropping in fact and will never again be the main party in Irish politics. The bank inquiry will also show that they actively worked to defraud the state. They are finished as a force in politics.
Too much cow pat!
Will someone please set up a new party, listening to these gombeens is just too much to take.
I’ll join
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