Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The chronic lack of expediency in respect of housing grants is limiting the ability of people with disabilities to live independent lives. These grants are very popular and once applications are sanctioned, the transition goes quite smoothly most of the time. It is getting to this point that is the problem. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2020 makes provision for a review of housing grants in any event so why not expedite matters and ease the burden on persons with disabilities and their families? One of my offices in Cork South West is assisting a person who suffered a stroke at the end of last year. This person is set to be discharged from hospital. However, the family awaits a decision on an adaptation grant. The position as of today is that the family will have to rent a house, which they can ill afford, so that their loved one may be discharged. This person could, of course, linger on in hospital. However, as my colleague stated, beds are being underutilised because of circumstances such as these. I have stated previously that a disability should not mean that a person cannot live an independent life. The State needs to up its game. People with a disability and their families deserve a break and it is time to secure what is needed and necessary.

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