CORK City Council has 700 elderly and disabled people on it’s waiting list for grant aid to improve their quality of life.

Figures received by Deputy Deirdre Clune TD, show that applicants will have to wait eight weeks for approval after their application for grant schemes including Housing Aid for Older People, Mobility Aids Housing Grant Scheme and the Housing Adaptaion Grant for people with a disability are received .

The City Manager released figures showing that while 700 applications are pending, 119 of the 225 applications submitted this year have received grant money from a fund of €2.7 million. The 700 people are divided into 344 people with disabilities waiting for the Adaptation Grant, 331 waiting for Housing Aid for Older People and 25 people waiting for the Mobility Aids Housing grants.

Figures released also showed in 2008 a fund of €2,155,620 was available, 604 people applied for the three grants, 312 of whom were successful. In 2009 the fund was increased to €2,776,250 and of the 311 people who applied, 352 were successful. The fund dropped to €68,334 to €2,707,916 in 2010.

Speaking on the matter, Deputy Clune said: “these grants are a very important part of the City Council budget and there are hundreds of people who need these funds to get a basic standard of living. They are essential as they contribute to helping people stay in their own homes and not have to source external care or facilities such as nursing homes. ”