Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 May 2019
161. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to ensure a percentage of all social housing projects supported by capital funding deliver a percentage of integrated wheelchair accessible social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22907/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are responsible for the provision of social housing in their areas, and, as such, decide on the number and specific types of dwellings to provide in their developments, based on identified need.
One of the key initiatives 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 all of the categories of disability, over the next five years. These Plans, the majority of which are now available on the relevant local authority websites, along with the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA), will allow local authorities to plan more strategically for the housing needs of people with a disability and will 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 that are fully wheelchair accessible.
