National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

effectiveness of the suite of adaptation grant schemes has been undertaken and is currentlyunder consideration by DECLG.8.16 The case study below outlines a pilot initiative recently undertaken by WicklowCounty Council to recycle stairlifts, thus reducing expenditure and meeting need moreefficiently.Case Study 8.1: Wicklow County Council – Pilot Stairlift Recycling ProjectEarly in 2009, Wicklow County Council initiated a pilot stairlift recycling programme with aview to reducing expenditure on the installation of stairlifts in their housing stock. TheCouncil placed an advertisement in a local paper inviting people to contact them if theyhad unwanted or discarded stairlifts in their homes which might be suitable for recycling.The Council hoped that a number of these stairlifts would be suitable to meet demandwithin their own housing stock. A number of people responded to the advertisement andthe Council began the process of matching up the unused and unwanted stairlifts with newapplications on hands with the Council for the installation of stairlifts. Once a match wasidentified, the Council arranged for crews to remove the unwanted stairlifts and immediatelyinstalled them in their new homes.Wicklow County Council report very positive outcomes for all concerned from the pilot recyclingproject. The people who responded to the advertisement were happy to have the unwantedstairlift removed, while the project resulted in reduced waiting times for peoplerequiring the installation of stairlifts. Wicklow County Council is very satisfied with the outcomeof the pilot project which has seen 5/6 unused, yet perfectly functioning stairliftsbeing recycled. The pilot also resulted in savings in expenditure for the Council on newstairlifts. Wicklow County Council hopes to be in a position to continue the scheme in thenear future.Lifetime Housing8.17 It is the view of many stakeholders involved in the provision of housing, and thoserepresenting people with disabilities, that the concept of lifetime housing should bemainstreamed as part of housing policy. In Ireland, there are currently no nationalstandards or agreed criteria in respect of either lifetime housing or wheelchair accessiblehousing. However, the DECLG guidance document, Quality Housing for SustainableCommunities (2007), outlines that all new housing should be reasonably accessible for olderpeople, the very young and people with disabilities; designers should consider not just theimmediate needs of the prospective occupants but also their changing needs over the life ofthe dwelling; and, in so far as is possible, the design should provide for flexibility in use,accessibility and adaptability with the aim of ensuring that dwellings can meet the changingneeds of occupants over their lifetimes. The document also outlines that older people or87