Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I move amendment No. 15:

In page 12, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:

"(xi) the provision, adaptation or improvement of housing for persons with a disability,".

The purpose of amendments Nos. 15 and 29 is to ensure adequate provision for promoting the independence of persons with a disability. The Bill goes some way to rectifying situations where significant sums of money are spent on the disabled persons grant scheme. The Bill will now facilitate a clawback for moneys expended in that area. The issue of dealing with disability in the area of housing should not be to create a segregated approach nor should it mean the creation of modifications to mainstream housing. The amendment proposes that as part of housing planning, there would be integration of housing programmes for people with disabilities into mainstream housing developments so that such persons would have an independent living arrangement within the housing programme. I will be pressing the amendment and I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

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