David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, with reference to his Department's sectoral plan, protocols on individual housing needs and social housing supports for people with disabilities have been developed by the housing authorities and Health Service Executive; if these are in place throughout the country; if best practice advice on housing design approaches based on universal access philosophy, flexibility and adaptability have been published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35186/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In line with a commitment under my Department's sectoral plan, a protocol governing liaison between the Health Service Executive and housing authorities on the assessment of the individual accommodation needs of people with a disability has been developed and is now being implemented. A protocol governing support costs for social housing projects provided for people with a disability is currently being developed and is expected to be implemented early next year.

As part of my Department's revision of the 1999 Social Housing Design guidelines, Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities was launched in March 2007, setting out the essential requirements to be met in the provision of new housing. These guidelines provide that all housing should be accessible and adaptable, that there should be ease of access and circulation for all residents, including people with impaired mobility, enabling them to move as freely as possible within and through the development, to gain access to buildings and to use the services and amenities provided, and that dwellings should be capable of adaptation to meet changing needs of residents during the course of their lifetime.

My Department recently met with the National Disability Authority to discuss possible specific best practice guidelines in the context of lifetime adaptable housing, which will further reinforce my Department's policy for social inclusion and universal accessibility.

The protocol governing the individual accommodation needs of people with a disability and Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities are available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie.