AQW 8614/16-21

Mrs Jenny Palmer
Ulster Unionist Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 06/12/2016
Answered On Date: 15/12/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail how many homes he plans to build that are adapted for people with disabilities by March 2021.

Answer:

Information relating to plans for homes that are adapted for people with disabilities is only available for the current programme year as the Social Housing Development Programme (SHDP) is formulated on a 3-year basis and the housing mixes are not currently finalised for future years.

There are currently 102 Wheelchair Standard social housing units under construction as part of the SHDP with a further 43 units programmed to start in 2016/17.

To increase the provision of wheelchair standard accommodation and address the current waiting list, my Department has recently introduced new wheelchair design housing standards which came into effect from November 2016 and will be fully introduced as part of the Social Housing Development Programme from next year. Housing Associations will be encouraged to include more generic wheelchair units within their new build housing schemes to meet demand.