National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

the phased closure of admissions to the remaining hospitals and the relocation of patients tocommunity based accommodation in line with the recommendations of A Vision for Change.2.16 In terms of housing, the report sets out a series of recommendations in order toeffectively meet the needs of people with a mental health disability. These includefacilitating appropriate access to housing and the provision of suitable and affordableaccommodation types and mechanisms to prevent people with a mental health disabilityfrom becoming homeless. Further, the report states that access to housing for individualswith mental health disabilities should be on the same basis as any other citizen; envisagesthat the majority of people with a mental health disability will not require residential carebut will be able to live in mainstream housing with varying levels of support; states that theprovision of social housing is the responsibility of the local authorities; and recommendsdevelopment of liaison arrangements between authorities and mental health services inorder to ensure appropriate housing is provided to people with a mental health disability.Further detail in relation to the housing needs of people with a mental health disability is setout in Chapter 9.2.17 The fifth annual report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change(June 2011) is available on the website of the Department of Health 8 .- Review of Disability Services under the Value for Money and Policy ReviewInitiative 2009 – 20112.18 The Office for Disability & Mental Health has commenced the process of devising adisability policy, which will focus on supporting people with disabilities to participate as fullyas possible in the social and economic lives of their communities. This work is beingadvanced as part of the Value for Money and Policy Review on Disability Services. Thereview, which has adopted a two pronged approach includes an examination of theefficiency and effectiveness of existing disability services and whether they are meeting theGovernment’s stated objective that people with a disability are enabled, as far as possible,to live full and independent lives. Secondly, a new vision and policy framework for disabilityservices in Ireland is being developed which will include any changes considered necessaryto achieve optimal efficiency and effectiveness.- Report of the Congregated Settings Working Group2.19 A working group, chaired by the HSE, and with representation from serviceproviders, self advocates, umbrella organisations for people with disabilities, parent and user8www.dohc.ie30