Ms AnnMarie Farrelly:

The case studies are put forward as examples. There will be examples throughout the country. At local level, the housing and disability steering groups are in place for sharing best practice but there are regional and national groups set up. The Housing Agency has a co-ordination role in that space, so there should be no reason we cannot all learn from each other. From the steering group perspective, it is important that every member arrive to make a contribution and take responsibility for their membership of the group.

With regard to identifying needs, whether through our social housing needs assessment or the work of the steering group, the first part entails identifying that there is a need, the second entails identifying a property suitable for allocation, and the third entails the supports needed to ensure a successful tenancy. Tenancies will fail if adequate supports, particularly health and other specialist supports, including for addiction, are not available. Addiction is not included as a category of disability but it is probably interwoven into all four categories: physical, sensory, mental health and intellectual. Addiction support is an example of a type of ongoing support that might be needed after allocation. There is not always success in this area. It can be difficult to ensure the right supports are available at the right time. It is an ongoing process and there is much work involved to ensure the tenancies are successful. Everybody coming to the disability steering group needs to come with a contribution and take responsibility to deliver their part in this jigsaw, so to speak.

Mr. Rainey will comment on the mapping exercise and targeting.

On defining choice, it is a matter of supporting the individual to define their choice and, for example, ensuring they are on the social housing list. Certainly in the case of congregated settings, it is probably not true to say they are all on the housing list. Sometimes specialist work with providers must be considered. For example, I visited a launch before Christmas in Fingal of a straightforward four-bedroom semi-detached house in a busy housing estate with houses occupied by families and others. Four individuals were moving from a congregated setting into the house, which was funded through the capital acquisition fund. The individuals were living among the community. The charity involved felt the support of the local community was the first step, along with the fact that neighbours and others could be a support. The individual supports needed for the people living in that house needed to be available. That system had been set up, but, again, there is a continuing obligation and responsibility on everybody to make sure they are in place.