Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
307. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for not including dwelling design for wheelchair users to a UD ++ standard in the design manual for quality housing; the steps that will be taken to include UD ++ in the next edition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52977/22]
View answerThe Design Manual for Quality Housing, which is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/b3e02-design-manual-for-quality-housing/, contains a wide variety of internal layouts for houses, duplexes and apartments, as optional standard internal layout type templates. The Manual sets out acceptable dwelling sizes, internal layouts, room sizes and configurations for new dwellings.
The Manual was prepared following consultation with local authorities and other stakeholders including the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD), The Housing Agency, the HSE and others. Section 5 of the Manual includes detailed guidance on dwelling design, including accessibility with Section 5.3.2 in particular, relating to ‘Housing for People with Disability’ and Section 5.3.3 to ‘Age-Friendly Housing’.
The Manual includes internal layouts which meet the requirements of ‘UD home’ as set out in the CEUD’s ‘Universal Design Guidelines for Homes in Ireland’. The policy document National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 published December 2021, sets a requirement for local authorities in the delivery of social housing, to ensure that ‘50% of the new pipeline delivery [of dwellings] being reserved for disabled people in each LA being wheelchair liveable i.e. meeting Centre for Excellence in Universal Design ‘UD Home’’.
The CEUD has recently advised my Department in relation to the UD home standard adopted in the Design Manual, that “UD Home optimises flexibility, adaptability and usability for everyone... Universal Design Homes are accessible to all people regardless of age, size, ability or disability. A home designed from a Universal Design approach allows ease of access and use for people with mobility issues, persons using wheelchairs, for children in strollers and buggies and to allow easy access for the delivery of furniture and appliances. They are homes that demonstrate good, practical design quality that is affordable”.
UD++ homes propose a very high standard of requirements intended for persons with very specific space requirements as a result of their disability or illness. By way of clarification, the CEUD recently advised my Department that “UD Home ++ is a more person-focused approach to home design and construction. A UD ++ home may be provided for a person with a long-term illness or disability. The home would be planned and designed with the end user’s needs in mind as well as taking on board their family and carer’s needs, however the home is to look and feel no different to other homes. Through good design and consultation with the end user(s), the home should be easy to use and future-proofed. A UD Home ++ provides greater use of space and provides more elements and features to ensure the home is fit for purpose”.
Standards set by UD++ are, accordingly, person-specific in approach and can be very bespoke, responding to the specific requirements of the intended resident(s). Such needs are unique and require a person-centred design approach and are therefore, not within the ambit of promoting standard internal layouts as intended by the Design Manual.
However, my Department continues to fully support and provide funding for the provision by local authorities and AHBs of specialised housing for persons with such specific disabilities and long-term illnesses, such that the dwelling needs to be designed with the specific end user’s requirements in mind, as well as taking on board their family and carers' needs.
