Ms Natalya Jackson:

To answer the Deputy's question on going through various councils, in some county councils it works very well and in other areas of the country there is evidence it does not. For example, if a resident with an intellectual disability is seeking a rent supplement and it goes through the Department of Social Protection, the buildings are defined as institutional dwellings even though they are living in community houses. That is having an impact on accessing grant supplement which, again, is in breach of their rights and we get back to the UNCRPD.

Dr. Harnett's point about accessibility goes back to the whole area of decongregation. There are a lot of residents with intellectual disabilities who could and should live in the community, but to avail of community houses there are significant adaptations needed. Sometimes the funding, through the various county councils, from the capital assistance scheme, CAS, does not meet the considerable financial requirements that go into those housing models. Again, this should form part of the housing strategy. The needs of people with intellectual disabilities should be identified at the beginning of housing developments; it is a question of getting in early with them.