Ms Claire Kenny:

ILMI has been involved in making inclusion a reality. It is about facilitating disabled people in the development of housing through housing and disability steering groups, HDSGs. The network is made up of disabled people from South Dublin County Council. It is about promoting real and effective participation of disabled people across all impairments in county and local representative structures. In South Dublin County Council, they are paid a stipend for attending meetings but the Deputy is right that, in general, disabled people are asked to attend these meetings and it is not always clear if their expertise is valued in monetary terms, so that needs to be looked at.

ILMI has a strong position in housing policy for disabled people and we have been fully involved in the national housing strategy for disabled people 2021-22. A number of our representatives are members on different HDSGs, which is a good step forward because it supports Article 4(3) of the UNCRPD.