Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have touched on the most important part of the proposed legislation, which is consultation about the immediate needs of the people we are trying to help. Has anybody looked at, for example, the duplex housing system recently and how many people are in such accommodation and must access their homes via an outside stairs with only one handrail? There have been numerous cases of people breaking their ankles, legs and so on and so forth. Those people can still be left in those houses for ten years, 15 years or more, becoming more dependent on those around them. They are, unfortunately, not receiving any urgent treatment.

Approved housing bodies have within their lists of tenants at the moment several people who need adaptation grants to change their houses to address the needs of the people living in them. Those needs are fairly extensive. Some older people may have fallen or may have had an experience that has resulted in their being afraid to use the bath and afraid to stay in their own homes as a result of the means of access. We do not readily understand their experiences. I ask, in the situation we find ourselves, that the Minister of State would take responsibility and be in a position to dictate the necessities at design level for the people who are going to live in the houses. We must address the limitations on the extent to which disabled people can enjoy a normal living standard in their houses, insofar as it is possible for them to do so. How can we make it happen for them in a short time rather than telling them we will do something about it when we get time? I am sure everybody knows of cases of people who are in approved housing body houses but had to wait two or three years to get into them. That is crazy.