Tag: disability

The below Motions were raised at the October 2024 meeting of the Full Council:

Councillor William Durkan

That the council outlines the proportion of existing housing stock that is suitable for tenants with mobility/accessibility issues, how this relates to the proportion of those on Kildare County Council’s housing list that have documented mobility/accessibility concerns, and comment on suitable provision plans moving forward.

Report: In terms of the proportion of existing Kildare County Council housing stock that is adapted for mobility issues, only figures from 2014 are available. Adaptations to Kildare County Council owned properties are carried out through the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme (DPG). Works eligible under the DPG scheme include bathroom adaptations, stairlifts, ramps and the provision of extensions for ground floor living. Below is the number of DPGs completed per year:

The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 sets out the framework for the delivery of housing for people with a disability through mainstream housing policy. This reflects Government policy that all public services should meet the needs of people with disabilities as an integral part of their function, i.e. mainstreaming of services to people with disabilities. An action of this Strategy required the establishment of Housing Disability Steering Groups and membership in Kildare has senior housing staff, senior staff from the HSE, representatives from local disability advocacy groups and people with lived experience. The Kildare Housing and Disability Strategy 2022-2027 has been prepared and agreed by the Housing Disability Steering Group in accordance with national policy and the vision is to facilitate access for disabled persons to the appropriate range of housing and related support services, delivered in an integrated and sustainable manner, which promotes equality of opportunity, individual choice and independent living.

Kildare County Council’s County Development Plan 2023-2029 is committed to implementing the frameworks for the delivery of housing for disabled people as set out under the ‘National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027’ and identifies actions to ensure all KCC new build housing stock is in compliance with Part M of the Building Regulations, that 10% of acquired housing stock meets the needs of those with a disability and 12% of Kildare County Council new builds are universally designed and to monitor the number of housing acquisitions and new builds and ensure that they meet the needs of those with a disability.

In County Kildare there are currently 3,450* (excluding those in receipt of HAP/RAS) people assessed as needing social housing support. Of the total number, currently 342 applicants have been assessed based of disability needs. Analysis of these applications would further inform the requirements in terms of unit size, location, design and any other specific needs. The table below details the categories of identified need based on information provided at the time of receipt of the housing application. Applications from individuals residing in congregated settings have been discounted from the 342 as they are accounted for separately under Congregated Settings.

Table 1: Category of Identified Need

Of the 342 identified above, 85 of these are council tenant transfer requests. In the event of a person’s accommodation becoming unsuitable due to disability, priority is given for transfer to a suitable property if available.