My Department has published a Design Manual for Quality Housing which is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/b3e02-design-manual-for-quality-housing/. The Manual is intended to guide local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, and their consultants, on the design of social housing including the internal layouts of individual social homes. The manual includes guidance on the approach to ‘Housing for People with Disability’ (Section 5.3.2) and specific design approaches developed with the input of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD).
The Manual also recognises that to best meet the needs of people with disabilities, certain design modifications may be required and in that regard, through an occupational therapist’s report where needed, spatial and other required adaptations for a particular household can be set out.
My Department is encouraging all local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to utilise this Design Manual as the best way to ensure funding support for the wide range of housing situations that can arise.
The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027, was published in January 2022, and can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/60d76-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/
The Strategy sets out the vision for the cooperation and collaboration of Government Departments, state agencies and others in delivering housing and the related supports for disabled people over the next five years. The Strategy operates within the framework of Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland which is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units, is available to everyone in Irish society, including those with disabilities and older people.
