Written answers

Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing for People with Disabilities

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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319. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department will conduct a review of all housing schemes for persons with long-term illness or disabilities in order to ensure they are made accessible to everyone regardless of means and to bring them in line with current building costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23199/21]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2016 was published in late 2011 and extended to 2021. It is a joint strategy between my Department and the Department of Health which sets out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities through mainstream housing policy. The Strategy was developed as part of a coherent framework of housing and health care supports for people with disabilities and compliments the Government’s mental health policies as set out in the strategy documents - A Vision for Change and the Report of the Working Group on Congregated Settings Time to Move On (2011).

Housing accommodation for persons with a disability can be provided by the local authorities and approved housing bodies with funding from central government through two mainstream capital programmes; the Capital Assistance Scheme and the Capital Advance Leasing Facility.

Persons with disabilities are entitled to apply for a housing support assessment in the same manner as other citizens. If they have specific needs and these are specified as a basis of application, and supported by medical evidence, they will be taken into account in allocating a dwelling as local authorities strive to provide housing that is tailored to the needs of the individual to enable them to manage their disability in a more effective manner. In the case of private rented accommodation a person with a disability may source their own accommodation and be supported through the Housing Assistance Payment.

Persons with a disability make up approximately 8% of those on local authority housing waiting lists. Since 2016, allocations of homes to persons with a disability has ranged from 10-12% of all allocations. The existing strategy is under review and public consultation and research has begun. It is intended that a new strategy will be published by the end of 2021.

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