Louth County Council to pause acceptance of Housing Adaptation Grants

Louth County Council has announced that due to significant demand and the high volume of applications already processed in 2024, it will temporarily pause the general acceptance of new applications for Housing Adaptation Grants (HAGs), Mobility Aid Grants (MAGs), and Housing for Older Persons (HOPs).

It says that the measure, which will come into effect from Friday 9 May 2025, is being introduced to ensure that Louth County Council can meet its existing commitments and prioritise those with the most urgent medical and care needs.

The scale of applications received means that 75% of Louth County Council’s projected allocation for 2025 has been offered to applicants. Additional submissions will be made to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage if further funding becomes available.

The Housing Adaptation Grants scheme supports private homeowners who need to carry out essential works to improve accessibility or living conditions, particularly for older people and those living with disabilities. Under current regulations, Louth County Council contributes 20% to each approved grant.

The temporary pause is expected to remain in place until November 2025, when it is anticipated that applications may reopen under the 2026 budget allocation. 

From 9th May 2025, applications that meet Priority 1 criteria will continue to be accepted and assessed throughout the pause period and will be funding dependent.

As defined by Department of Housing guidelines, Priority 1 applications relate to cases where the person is terminally ill, primarily dependent on family or a carer or where adaptations to the home would support them leaving hospital or residential care.

Louth County Council says that all other applications received during the pause will be recorded but returned to applicants, along with a clear explanation of the current budgetary constraints.

Explaining the decision, Louth County Council Director of Services, Ger Murphy, said: “While I acknowledge that this course of action is not ideal, the Housing Grants team will endeavour to process as many existing Priority 1 cases and new emergency cases as possible within the remaining projected 2025 allocation.

“We fully recognise that this decision will be difficult for many homeowners and families. However, it is essential to ensure that those with the most urgent needs continue to receive support, and that we can meet our commitments under the current allocation.”

Members of the public with questions regarding their eligibility or application status are encouraged to contact Louth County Council’s Housing Grants team directly.