The Minister for Housing & Planning, Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, TD, and the
Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health & Older People, Ms.
Kathleen Lynch, TD, today [20th July 2012] published the National
Implementation Framework to support the Government’s National Housing
Strategy for People with a Disability, 2011–2016. The Implementation
Framework was developed by an Implementation Planning Group, chaired by the
Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government, in conjunction
with the Department of Health, along with representatives from the HSE,
Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, City & County Managers’
Association and the Housing Agency.
In launching the Framework, Minister O’Sullivan said “the development of
the Implementation Framework represents a continuation of the successful
collaborative approach employed between my Department and the Department of
Health in addressing the housing and related support needs of people with
disabilities”.
The Implementation Framework sets out a range of priority actions to
support people with disabilities to live in communities as independently as
possible, by providing mainstream assessment of housing need and
appropriate housing solutions. Minister O’Sullivan continued “this
approach will be two fold – it will support people currently living in
communities to access and maintain housing appropriate to their needs and
underpinned by the delivery of related supports. Secondly, it puts the
mechanism in place to support the transitioning of people from
institutional care to more independent living within socially inclusive
communities”.
The Implementation Framework reflects the recommendations of the
Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change and the Report of
the Congregated Settings Working Group in relation to the phased movement,
over the next 7 years, of almost 5,000 people with intellectual, physical
and mental health disabilities from institutions to community living.
Referring to the funding requirements to support this ambitious
transitioning programme, Minister Lynch said “despite the extremely
difficult economic conditions, I am very pleased to announce that initial
funding of €1 million will be made available in 2013 to support the
commencement of the transitioning programme”. The funding, which will be
ring fenced to meet the housing needs of people leaving institutions in
2013, will enable housing authorities to provide up to 150 new homes in the
community for people with disabilities. These units will be additional to
the overall social housing supports which are expected to be delivered
through all supply mechanisms in 2013.
Minister Lynch continued “In order to maintain progress on the
transitioning programme, it is critical that sustainable funding resources
are identified, and informed by the progress in 2013, the Health sector
will explore options to release necessary funding. This will be the subject
of ongoing discussions between my Department and the Department of
Environment, Community & Local Government”.
The Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency will play a key role in
overseeing the rollout of the Implementation Framework and ensuring
uniformity of approach at local level. A dedicated Housing Subgroup is
being established in order to develop guidance and provide advice for local
authorities on the implementation of priority actions.
The Implementation Framework will be subject to a robust monitoring and
reporting regime with annual progress reports to be submitted to the
Cabinet Committee on Social Policy in conjunction with regular Committee
updates. Minister O’Sullivan concluded “I have recently established an
Implementation Monitoring Group which will be charged with overseeing
progress on implementation. This group will also play a vital role in
identifying and addressing any challenges that may arise, including through
the review of specific actions, as appropriate”.
The Implementation Framework is available on the websites of the Department
of the Environment, Community & Local Government, www.environ.ie and the
Department of Health at the following link
http://www.dohc.ie/publications/housing_strategy_implementation.html