Dr. Alison Harnett:

The focus of our work tends to be in the support area and some of the responsibilities cross between Departments, which is often where the citizen finds it difficult. It can be difficult sometimes to identify whether it is the support need or the housing need that drives the adaptation. This can lead to a situation where responsibility is not clear and that leads to a lack of meeting that adaptation cost. Much of the advocacy work that has gone into the new strategy - which obviously has not been published yet - has been taking place to support a very clear delineation of where the budget lines should be for the different types of adaptation and what the ceilings should be. Ultimately, if a person's adaptation need is a little higher than what is at the ceiling, but it means that person can remain in the home and not access a residential place then, obviously, it is good value for the State. What we need to see in the new housing strategy is the State acting in one strategy. For example, if we in the support side and somebody on the housing side are taking different approaches, the person can fall between two stools. Departmental responsibility is crucial. I think Ms Jackson also has some points on this.