Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
We know that reducing barriers so disabled people can maintain their independence, safety and good health allows them to continue to live at home with dignity, and it also reduces pressures on our health and social care services. From April 2021 it will be simpler for disabled people to get help with small and medium sized adaptations to their homes as we take measures to remove the means test from small and medium Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).


DFGs are the main source of help for disabled people in the great majority of households in Wales who are owner occupiers or who live in in private rented accommodation. This is the main way in which they get help with the most common types of adaptations, such as stair lifts, ramps and downstairs toilet and washing facilities.


Our most recent data shows us that small and medium sized adaptations made up the vast majority of DFGs – 1,507 small and 2,214 medium adaptations, compared with just 269 large adaptations. If we remove the means test, independent research calculates it would cost local government in Wales an additional £238,000, and estimates each local authority would save £6,000\-£10,000 in annual administration costs. This research by the Wales Centre for Public Policy has been published on their website today.


Local authorities are under statutory duties to provide DFGs to eligible disabled people and this will not change. However, they can use of powers under the Regulatory Reform Order 2002 to make grants without applying a means test. For this reason, I am increasing the Enable grant to local authorities from April 2021 by £400,000, to £4\.4 million. This additional grant can be used to meet the capital pressures and address any potential bottlenecks as a result of increased demand.  I feel confident that working together with local authorities we can continue to improve access to adaptations for those who need them, as well as reduce waiting times.


The adaptations themselves should continue to be funded from the capital the Welsh Government distributes to local government to meet the cost of DFGs.


We will monitor the impact of this policy over an initial three year period. We will need to collect information about the numbers of applications for DFGs, completion rates and waiting times. We will report on progress annually.


It will be a condition of the Enable grant that local authorities do not means test small and medium DFGs. I expect local authorities to comply for the benefit of disabled people who live in their areas. If, in due course, we find we need to, we do have the option of legislating in the next Senedd.


In relation to the small number of large adaptations carried out each year, I wish to highlight the amended the guidance for the Integrated Care Fund (ICF) capital programme for 2021/22 which I issued in January. Large adaptations are usually only required in complex cases, such as families with disabled children and adults with life\-limiting diseases. Resolving the financial issues can be very time consuming, leading to significant and unnecessary continuing distress. Under the amended ICF guidance, Regional Partnership Boards are now able to use their discretion to meet the additional costs of adaptations which cost more than £36,000\. I will be monitoring how much use is made of this flexibility over the coming year.


Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Housing Adaptations Steering Group, including local authority housing officials and the WLGA, for their work in bringing us to a point where we can take such an important step to improving the lives of disabled people in Wales.







Translation:


 
Rydym yn gwybod bod lleihau’r rhwystrau er mwyn i bobl anabl allu cynnal eu hannibyniaeth, diogelwch a iechyd yn caniatáu iddynt barhau i fyw yn eu cartref gydag urddas, ac mae hefyd yn lleihau’r pwysau ar wasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.  O Ebrill 2021 bydd yn haws i bobl anabl gael cymorth gydag addasiadau bach a chanolig eu maint i’w cartrefi wrth i ni gymryd camau i ddileu’r prawf modd ar Grantiau Cyfleusterau i’r Anabl (GCA).


GCA yw prif ffynhonnell cymorth i bobl anabl yn y mwyafrif o aelwydydd yng Nghymru sy’n berchen\-feddianwyr neu sy’n rhentu yn y sector preifat. Dyma’r brif ffordd y maent yn cael cymorth gyda’r mathau mwyaf cyffredin o addasiadau, megis lifft risiau, rampiau, a chyfleusterau toiled ac ymolchi llawr gwaelod.


Mae ein data mwyaf diweddar yn dangos mai addasiadau bach a chanolig oedd y mwyafrif llethol o GCA – 1,507 bach a 2,214 canolig – o gymharu a dim ond 269 o addasiadau mawr. Os dilëwn y prawf modd, mae ymchwil annibynnol yn cyfrifo y byddai’n golygu cost ychwanegol ar lywodraeth leol yng Nghymru o £238,000, ac mae’n amcangyfrif y byddai pob awdurdod lleol yn arbed £6,000\-£10,000 bob blwyddyn mewn costau gweinyddol. Cyhoeddwyd yr ymchwil hwn gan Ganolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru ar eu gwefan heddiw.


Mae awdurdodau lleol dan ddyletswyddau statudol i roi GCA i bobl anabl sy’n gymwys ac ni fydd hyn yn newid. Fodd bynnag, gallant ddefnyddio pwerau o dan y Gorchymyn Diwygio Rheoleiddio 2002 i roi grantiau heb gynnal prawf modd. Am y rheswm hwn, rwy’n cynyddu’r grant Hwyluso i awdurdodau lleol o Ebrill 2021 o £400,000, i £4\.4 miliwn. Gellir defnyddio’r grant ychwanegol hwn i gwrdd â phwysau cyllid cyfalaf a delio ag unrhyw dagfeydd posibl fel canlyniad i gynnydd yn y galw am addasiadau. Rwy’n teimlo’n hyderus y gallwn barhau i’w wneud yn haws i’r rhai sydd eu hangen gael addasiadau, yn ogystal â lleihau amseroedd aros, drwy gydweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol.


Dylid parhau i ariannu’r addasiadau o’r cyfalaf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dosrannu i awdurdodau lleol i gwrdd â chostau GCA.


Byddwn yn monitro effaith y polisi hwn dros gyfnod cychwynnol o dair blynedd. Bydd rhaid i ni gasglu gwybodaeth am nifer y ceisiadau am GCA, cyfraddau cwblhau ac amseroedd aros. Byddwn yn adrodd yn flynyddol ar gynnydd.


Bydd yn amod y grant Hwyluso na fydd awdurdodau lleol yn cynnal prawf modd ar addasiadau bach a chanolig. Rwy’n disgwyl i awdurdodau lleol gydymffurfio er lles y bobl anabl sy’n byw yn eu hardaloedd. Os, mewn amser, fe ddaw’n glir bod rhaid gwneud hynny, bydd gennym yr opsiwn o ddeddfu yn y Senedd nesaf .


Yn achos y nifer bach o addasiadau mawr a wneir bob blwyddyn, hoffwn dynnu sylw at y canllawiau diwygiedig ar gyfer rhaglen gyfalaf y Gronfa Gofal Integredig (GGI) ar gyfer 2021/22 a gyhoeddais ym mis Ionawr. Fel arfer, dim ond yn yr achosion mwyaf cymhleth y mae gofyn am addasiadau mawr, megis teuluoedd â phlant anabl ac oedolion â chlefyd sy’n cwtogi bywyd. Mae datrys y materion ariannol yn gallu cymryd llawer o amser, gan arwain at drallod sylweddol a pharhaus. O dan ganllawiau diwygiedig y GGI, mae Byrddau Partneriaeth Rhanbarthol yn cael defnyddio eu disgresiwn i gwrdd â chostau ychwanegol addasiadau sy’n costio mwy na £36,000\. Byddaf yn monitro’r defnydd a wneir o’r hyblygrwydd hwn dros y flwyddyn nesaf.


Yn olaf, hoffwn gymryd y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i aelodau’r Grŵp Llywio Addasiadau Tai, yn cynnwys swyddogion tai awdurdodau lleol a’r CLlLC, am eu gwaith yn dod â ni at y pwynt lle gallwn gymryd y cam pwysig hwn i wella bywydau pobl anabl yng Nghymru.