COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

MOTION NO. 19

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

That the Chief Executive considers the implementation (by way of adapting a number of units in the Coolamber Development) of Time to Move on From Congregated Settings policy into the Coolamber development. If a report could be provided on the proposal.

 “Time to Move on From Congregated Settings
”The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 – 2016 The National Housing Strategy for People with Disabilities is a framework for delivering housing to people with disabilities through mainstream housing sources. The vision of the Strategy is, “to facilitate access, for people with disabilities, to the appropriate range of housing and related support services, delivered in an integrated and sustained manner, which promotes equality of opportunity, individual choice and independent living”. Whilst previously many people with disabilities had their housing needs met through healthfunded service providers, under this strategy people with disabilities will have access to social housing through Local Authorities in the same way as all citizens do. The Strategy sets out an integrated approach to the provision of housing and support services from the Local Authorities and the HSE, that will enable people with a disability to live the life of their choosing in their own homes, in accommodation that is designed and/or adapted as necessary to meet their needs. Social Housing Strategy 2020 The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) developed and launched a six year Housing Strategy in 2014. The vision of this Strategy is that, “every household will have access to secure, good quality housing suited to their needs at an affordable price in a sustainable community and that the State, for its part, will put in place financially sustainable mechanisms to meet current and future demand for social housing supports…” The Strategy sets out fully to meet our obligations to those who need assistance to provide a home for themselves including people with a disability. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to incorporate the needs of people with disability into all future housing policies.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council Housing Disability Group implements the Disability Strategy for Housing.  Part of this Strategy is delivering social housing to those who currently reside in congregated settings, who may wish to live independently or in a shared tenancy with support having left their congregated setting.  The Council works very closely with the Disability Groups in our administrative area to capture and assess the numbers of applicants, and where possible, to engage with them in ascertaining and meeting their housing needs.  Since 2017, 9 service users who resided full time in Congregated Settings have taken up tenancies with South Dublin County Council or an Approved Housing Body.  In addition, 3 applicants from one Congregated Setting now have an independent shared tenancy in a 3 bed social housing unit, and 2 new tenants share a tenancy, with a full time carer, in a 3 bed specially adapted property.  All applicants have successfully transitioned from their congregated setting.

South Dublin will continue to implement this national strategy in both our own housing stock and new developments, and also with approved housing body dwellings. The matter of providing dwellings in the Coolamber development will be discussed between the Approved Housing Body, Housing Construction Section and Allocations Section, with a view to providing accommodation for those with a medical requirement and those leaving congregated settings.