National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

Strategic Aim 3To support people with a disability to live independently in their own homes andcommunities, where appropriate(note: additional actions to support people to live independently are also outlined underother strategic aims)3.1 Continue to prioritise funding for the operation of the Housing Adaptation GrantSchemes for People with a Disability and Older People, to facilitate applicants to livein their own homes and communities for as long as possible;3.2 Provide sufficient resources at local level to ensure the effective enforcement of PartM of the Building Regulations in line with the implementation of new regulations;3.3 Undertake an examination of lifetime housing policy 2 and universal design in theIrish context;3.4 Undertake an examination of the housing accessibility needs of wheelchair users,including consideration of the development of design guidance to meet housingneed;3.5 Explore mechanisms to fund adaptation works to RAS and leased units to facilitatethe needs of people with physical and sensory disabilities;3.6 Undertake review of existing local authority pilot schemes for recycling and reusingof mobility aids (e.g. stairlifts) in various tenures;3.7 Develop housing accessibility guidance for use in the private rental sector;3.8 Examine the feasibility of the collection of accessibility data in conjunction with theundertaking of inspections of standards in the private rental sector;3.9 Consider development of a data register of accessible properties across all tenures;3.10 Identify good practice in implementing assistive technology and ambient assistiveliving technology to support independent living;3.11 Consider frameworks to support people with disabilities moving to independent livingwithin the social housing and private rented sectors;3.12 Examine the potential for the inclusion of a suite of accessibility provisions to makehousing visitable for people with disabilities as part of social housing improvementprogramme;3.13 Put arrangements in place to ensure that, where appropriate, vacant social housingbe used/adapted to meet the needs of disabled households on housing waiting lists;3.14 Prioritise capital funding for the undertaking of adaptation works for local authoritytenants who have a disability.2See definitions in chapter 816