Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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487. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the supports available to families with a child that is a wheelchair user and who are seeking accessible housing, but do not qualify for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64654/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Delivering Homes, Building Communities, published 13 November 2025 commits to ensuring that the increased supply of social homes includes homes that reflect universal design principles, fostering inclusivity.

My Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality. The Strategy and Implementation Plan may be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/60d76-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/. The Strategy and Implementation Plan sets out the actions to achieve the vision of the joint Strategy for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people to 2027 operating under the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities.

A range of affordable housing schemes are in place and being delivered by local authorities, Approved housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and by retail banks via the First Home scheme.

The Affordable Housing Fund enables local authorities to develop Affordable Purchase Schemes whereby homes are sold at a price below the market value in return for a commensurate equity stake retained by the local authority, which can be redeemed by the purchaser at any time, subject to certain conditions. Relevant homes are advertised on each local authority’s website as they become available and eligible applicants may apply for affordable homes in all local authority areas operating the scheme.

Similarly, the First Home Scheme uses an equity share model to support first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available on the scheme website: www.firsthomescheme.ie.

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build and is available to fresh starters as well as first time buyers. Further details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.

Other affordable options include the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. A further option, available under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, is the Ready to Build scheme whereby local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discount on the market value. The purchaser may then use the site to build their own home.

For those whose circumstances may be more suited to renting a home, the Government has introduced a new form of long-term sustainable home rental in the form of Cost Rental tenancies. This scheme aims to provide households who are above the threshold for social housing and cannot afford to purchase or rent their own home, with secure affordable tenancies in sustainable, long-term homes. Under the Cost Rental model, rents for homes are set to cover only the cost of delivering, managing and maintaining the homes.

Further information on affordable housing schemes currently advertised can be found on the websites of respective delivery partners, as well as on the Affordable Homes website, www.affordablehomes.ie.

My Department also provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment is the responsibility of the local authority.