Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
204. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans that are in place to provide additional respite beds or houses for persons with a disability in Enniscorthy and throughout County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51877/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of respite beds is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health.
In terms of housing for people with a disability more generally, the Government is determined to ensure that housing policy addresses the needs of those who experience exclusion in our society. There is ongoing and extensive engagement with all local authorities across all delivery streams to ensure maximum delivery of homes for those who need them. I meet regularly with local authorities and I know that they are committed to ensuring that housing is provided to all eligible applicants as speedily as possible and that the support needs of applicants are appropriately assessed.
Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland which was launched last month targets delivery of more homes of all types for people with different housing needs, including delivery of over 10,000 new social homes per year to 2030.
Specifically for people with disabilities, the Plan prioritises delivering an appropriate range of housing types and related support services in an integrated and sustainable manner. The roadmap to achieve this is to be set out in a new National Housing Strategy for Disabled People from 2022, promoting equality of opportunity, individual choice and independent living.
The current National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2016-2021, which is a joint Strategy with the Department of Health, runs to the end of this year and a series of consultations have taken place for the development of a new joint Strategy to 2027. A new joint Strategy will be in place by 1 January 2022.
Furthermore, Actions 7.1 to 7.6 of Housing for All set out specific measures to provide or enhance housing for people with disabilities. These include:
- ensuring that local authority Housing Delivery Action Plans will set out how dedicated social housing provision appropriate to the needs of people with a disability will be delivered matching the scale and extent of housing need identified for people with a disability;
- the needs of people with a disability will be assessed through the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Framework to be considered as part of the Housing Strategy and Development Plan process;
- Housing and Disability Steering Groups will have to report quarterly on the implementation of their local strategic plans regarding housing for people with a disability to the Chief Executive and the Strategic Policy Committee;
- the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs, including the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability will be reviewed, and relevant changes made, where appropriate;
- Disability Friendly Housing Technical Advisors will be appointed in each Local Authority.
