•    Home Purchase Loan:  If you are unable to secure a loan from a commercial lender, you may be eligible for a loan from Galway County Council to build or purchase a home.  Loans are subject to income limits and other conditions.  Further information is available from Galway County Council at 091 509301.  Galway City Council is not currently providing loans for home purchase

•    Tenant purchase scheme  if you are a tenant of a City/County Council house for at least one year you may apply to the City/County Council to purchase it, subject to terms and conditions.  Further information is available from the City Council on 091 536590 and from the County Council on 091 509264.

•    Debt Problems If you are having difficulty keeping up with payments it is vital that you immediately inform those you owe (utilities, banks, etc.) and seek advice.  Options include:

•  Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS) who advise and can negotiate with creditors (0761 07 2000 or locally,on Quay Street 0761 07 2570 or in An Cheathrú Rua on 076107 2820)

•  Utilities offer Easypay options and even pre-payment meters in some circumstances.

•  Community Welfare Service of the Department of Social Protection offer access Supported Housing Payments (see below).

•  A Mortgage Code of Practice protects you by requiring the lender:- to explore alternatives (like interest only or extending the term); not to apply penalties or force you to abandon a tracker mortgage; not to take legal action for repossession for 12 months (not counting time when you are complying with an agreement or appealing internally, or to the Financial Service Ombudsman).

•    Supported Housing Payments

      If neither partner is working over 29 hours per week, a supplement towards rent or mortgage interest is payable, if, after paying these, you are left with less than €158 (single), €277.80 (couples), plus €29.80 for each child. The supplement brings your income back up to this level. You are not eligible if either you or your spouse is working full-time (over 29 hours per week). These ceilings are to be reviewed in 2012. In the means test, Family Income Supplement, PRSI, the cost of travelling to work, and the first €75 plus 25% of the balance of other income (e.g. part-time work or on a scheme) are disregarded. 
The first €95.23 of maintenance payments is assessed, above that, the income disregard applies.

 •    Mortgage Interest supplement - to be eligible:

      •   the loan must have been for the purchase, repair or essential improvement of your home, and

      •   the interest is no greater than the rent ceiling for a household of similar composition.  If not, supplement is restricted to 12 months.
      •   you have completed the 12 month Resolution Process with your lending institution.

Mortgage Interest Supplement can be retained on a tapered basis over 4 years after returning to work, where gross household income (after PRSI and travel to work) doesn’t exceed €317.43.

 •    Rent supplement - to be eligible:

      •   Already renting (or in homeless accommodation) for at least six months, or on the Council’s housing needs list.

      •   Otherwise you must be first assessed by the Council as in housing need (emergency cases fast tracked by Councils).

No supplement will be paid where the rent exceeds ceilings set for different family size.  In Galway the rent ceilings are at €468 for a single person and €750 for a couple with two children.  Eligible recipients must pay at least €30 (single person) of €35 (couple) per week towards the cost of their rent.  

People going back to full-time work (>29 hours) can only retain eligibility for supplement if the Council has deemed them 
eligible for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).

 •    Rent Accommodation Scheme

You can qualify for RAS if you are in need of housing and have been getting Rent Supplement (in general for a
period of 18 months or more).  Under RAS, the City/County Council enters into a long-term contract with a Private Landlord, you pay an income related Rent {of 15% of after tax income in excess of €32 (single) €64 (couple)}. If you take up work you still get a subsidized rent. If the Landlord withdraws, the council is obliged to secure another tenancy for the family (For details, Tel: 091 509293 for County Council area and 091 894370 for City Council area).

  •    Housing Aid for Older People      Older people or those with incapacities can get grants for home improvements from City and County Councils.  The full grants below apply if the gross income of the owner and their spouse is less than €30,000, dropping on a graduated basis to 30% for incomes €54,000 – €65,000, but no grant over that. They are:

      •   Housing Aid For Older People - Up to 100% grant in owner-occupied homes, for persons age 60 or over, of up to €10,500 for necessary improvements – rewiring, roof repair, central heating (where none), and replacing of existing boiler when broken beyond repair.

      •   Mobility Aids – Up to 100% grant of up to €6,000 to address mobility problems, certified by a doctor (e.g. rails, ramps, stairlifts and level access showers) in owned or private rented homes where the annual household income is under €30,000.

      •   Housing Adaptation (Disability) – Up to  95% grant of up to €30,000 to adapt a home to suit the needs of a person with an enduring disability (e.g. downstairs toilet/shower, wheelchair adaptation, extension, etc.) in owned or private rented homes. The works must be certified necessary by a doctor and may require an Occupational Therapist Report.

Further information on the above schemes is available by telephoning Galway City Council on 091 536590 and Galway County Council on 091 509267 (older people housing aid) or 091 509263 (housing adaptation)

 •    Safer Homes

      •   Age Action Ireland has a team of volunteers available to do odd jobs for pensioners. They also have a list of honest and trustworthy tradesmen. (Lo Call) 1890 369 369 or locally in Galway 091 527 831

• Forum Connemara provides support for older people including the installation of security units as well as an essential housing repairs scheme (Tel 095-41064)
• Alarm and Medical Services is a Galway-based company which provides personal alarms and other security services for older people (Tel: 1850 427 327)

 •     Energy Efficient Home: Sustainable Energy Ireland provides grants to homeowners under two programmes

•  Better Energy Homes:   Scheme which provides grants for the following:  Attic Insulation (€200) Wall Insulation (€250-€1,800 internal and €1,800 – €3,600 external, depending on the type of dwelling), Boiler upgrade (€560) and Heating Controls Upgrade (€400).
• Warmer Homes Scheme which aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of homes occupied by low-income or elderly households.  Assistance is available with attic insulation, draught-proofing, hot water tanks insulation and low energy light bulbs.

 Further information on the schemes is available by telephoning Lo-call 1850 927 000 or by visiting http://www.seai.ie/grants