Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the housing options available to persons with a mental illness. [23611/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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It is open to any person or household to apply to a housing authority for an assessment of their housing need. Each application will be considered by the relevant housing authority to determine whether an applicant for social housing support is eligible for and in need of that support having regard to the particular circumstances of the case. When considering an application for social housing, an authority may have regard to whether the household's current accommodation is unsuitable by reason of a mental health disability or for other medical or compassionate reasons.

Once a household has been accepted as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, particular priority may be available within authorities' allocation schemes to persons or households with special needs, including mental health issues. Apart from mainstream housing available from housing authorities, the Irish Council for Social Housing, which represents bodies involved with voluntary housing may be able to advise on the names of voluntary bodies which specifically provide housing for people with mental health issues in various parts of the country.

The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability is the new Government strategy to address the housing needs of people with a disability over the period 2011-2016 and it sets out a framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities through mainstream housing policy. The strategy has a specific focus on meeting the housing needs of people with a mental health disability. This encompasses commitments in relation to moving people with low and medium support needs, from HSE mental health facilities to more appropriate community based housing, in line with the objectives of the Government's mental health policy, A Vision for Change. The strategy has been approved by Government and is expected to be published by the end of September.