John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement she has had with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and his Department with regard to the housing adaptation grants for persons with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20435/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for this question. Ensuring that people with disabilities can live lives of their choosing in accessible housing and as independently as possible is a key priority for Government. That is why housing has been a key consideration throughout the development process for the next National Disability Strategy, a Programme for Government commitment that will advance the implementation in Ireland of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It is important to note that specific responsibility for the administration of housing adaptation grants rests with the local authorities in question and responsibility for overall policy on housing supports for people with disabilities rests with my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

However, as part of the development process for the National Disability Strategy, my Department has had regular and ongoing engagement with several government Departments. Extensive engagement has occurred with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on measures and actions to provide specific supports to people with disabilities who choose to live in their homes, increase and enhance the stock of accessible living spaces and extend the accessibility of the built environment.

The development of the Strategy is now at a very advanced stage, having completed a robust public consultation process, and publication is expected in the coming months, with issues relating to housing supports being an important feature of the Strategy.