Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in. Until I joined this committee, I did not know there was a housing authority for people with disabilities. It is so welcome. We, in the Traveller movement, are looking for a specific housing authority for members of the Traveller community so I will be in contact with the witnesses again. Not many people even know there is an authority for housing that meets the needs of people with disabilities so it is something that is very welcome.

When I first came on this committee, going back nearly two years ago, I heard that LED lighting outside a person's home can impact or have an effect on people with disabilities. This is only after coming to mind now. I know that in halting sites, there are big LED lights that impact on people's sleep. Obviously, this is around building planning. Do the witnesses have any control over street lighting so that these lights would not go on? Do they think these lights impact on people? I ask their opinion on those lights for people with disabilities. Again, before I joined this committee, I did not have a clue that these lights impacted people with disabilities.

The representatives from St. Joseph's Foundation highlighted the community service programme as a best practice model of promoting community inclusion.

Will they expand on that? How can this programme help disabled people to realise their rights under Article 19 of the UNCRPD? What needs to be done to improve it? How do we let people with disabilities know there is an agency that can support them when they are looking for housing? I do not think many people know the agency is there. I know the witnesses are coming here with a lot of solutions but, in general, what is needed going forward for people with disabilities around accommodation? I would appreciate if ILMI and everyone around the table could answer that question. Our biggest problem at the moment as a society is homelessness and that includes people with disabilities. Last night I had a conversation with one of my friends who said that a large number of gay people are homeless. Gay people can have a disability as well so that intersectionality is important.

Regarding halting sites, under the TAP disability is not spoken about in local authorities in the context of Traveller accommodation. A few years ago, I was on the TAP for a house. I will go back to my own experience. When I was a child, I was in bad car crash and there were no facilities at home in the house. Twenty-three years ago, the local authority was meant to put a shower in my family home and that shower is still not in the family home. The HSE has to approve that. The occupational therapist makes sure the house is equipped. I agree with that to a certain extent but a house is for living in. Once it meets the person's needs, that is what is important. We need to look at that when building and laying out a house.

People are being failed when it comes to social housing in this country. There are thousands of people homeless on our streets. People with disabilities are definitely being failed through housing. One of our witnesses said things have changed in the past 30 years. While some things have got better, accommodation has not. Houses are not fit for purpose. There are issues with lighting on the streets.

I have worked with ILMI for years, on and off. The whole thing is your disability should not define you and you should have the right to live a life of freedom and to make your own decisions when you can. That is important. People should have a safe place to call home that meets their needs.