Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2672. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to commit 7% of all social housing stock in 2019 to the provision of appropriate housing for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33538/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2673. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units that are appropriate housing for persons with disabilities that are occupied, ready for occupation and in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33539/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2675. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the provision of housing for persons with disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33588/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2672, 2673 and 2675 together.
The planning, construction and allocation of local authority housing is a matter for individual local authorities. As such, it is entirely a matter for local authorities to decide whether or not to allocate a percentage of houses to people with disabilities. I have no function in relation to such decisions nor does my Department hold statistics on such allocations.
One of the key measures achieved in 2016 under the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD), which has been extended to 2020, was the establishment of Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) in all housing authority areas, to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with a disability at local level. These are chaired by Directors of Housing in each authority and include HSE and disability representative organisations. Each HDSG has prepared a local Strategic Plan for its own City/County area, to develop specific local strategies to meet identified and emerging need over the next five years. These Plans, along with the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments, allow local authorities to plan more strategically for the housing needs of people with a disability and support the delivery of accommodation using all appropriate housing supply mechanisms. This is a more targeted and responsive way to meet actual need identified rather than designating a specific percentage or number of new social housing builds for people with disabilities, although it is open to local authorities to do this if they decide it is appropriate.
I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, particularly in terms of facilitating the continued independent living by older people and people with a disability in their own homes. This is also recognised in the Programme for a Partnership Government and as a consequence, funding for these schemes has been increased year on year since 2014, with the 2017 funding allocation of €60.5m - comprising €48.8m Exchequer funding and €12.1m from local authority resources - representing an increase of some 6% on the previous year.
I have further increased the funding for the schemes in 2018 to a total of €66.25m. The exchequer funding this year totals €53m, an increase of 11% on the 2017 figure, with the balance being provided by the local authorities. Further consideration will be given to increasing this funding over the coming years in the context of the range of housing supports under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
