Councils now have to set housing delivery targets for disabled people

'Game-changing' new policy will be aimed at two groups — people who are able to live independently with some supports, and people who need specialist 24/7 wraparound care

Norma Foley said: 'People with disabilities not getting the chance to live independently on their own, and their elderly parents worrying what is going to happen to them once they are no longer around.' Picture: iStock

Local authorities will now be required to publish delivery targets as part of a “game-changing” approach for housing people with disabilities.

For the first time, councils will set out specific targets to provide accommodation for disabled people who can live more independently and those who require more intensive care.

Disability minister Norma Foley said: “For too long, I think we all agree, disabled people have not been a priority for social and affordable housing. We have to know the impact this has.

“People with disabilities not getting the chance to live independently on their own, and their elderly parents worrying what is going to happen to them once they are no longer around.”

The number of social housing allocations for disabled people has risen in recent years from 1,917 tenancies in 2022 to 2,924 in 2024.

Growing demand

But the strong housing demand from disabled people means that further homes are urgently needed, in particular for those with complex needs.

The State is currently providing homes for 8,911 disabled people with complex needs in locations around the country, backed up by staff and support. But there is continuous demand for new housing and support staff for people with disabilities with complex need and it is often not available locally when required.

However, two thirds of the 465 new housing places for people with disabilities with complex needs were delivered by commercial providers between 2024 and 2025 rather than through social or affordable housing.

Ms Foley, who has been working on the new measure with housing minister James Browne, said councils will supply the homes and her department, via the HSE, will supply the funding for the staff and services that people with disabilities need to live in these new homes.

Policy focus on 'two key groups' 

“For the first time, every council in the country will set targets for delivering social housing for two key groups of disabled people,” she told the Fianna Fáil ard fheis at the weekend.

“The first group is disabled people who are able to live more independently in the community with some supports and the second group is disabled people who need specialist 24/7 wraparound supports.

“The housing targets for these disabled people will be contained in the Local Authority Housing Delivery Action Plans 2027-2030.

“These plans will be published in the coming months. I truly believe that this will be a game changer because there will be a pipeline of homes for the people with disabilities who need them most,” said Ms Foley.

It comes as the Before We Die parents’ lobby group, which has been campaigning for the Government to fund and deliver residential places for adults with intellectual disability, will hold an information evening in Clayton Silversprings Hotel in Cork on Thursday.

More than 2,000 adults with intellectual disabilities in Ireland are still living with parents aged over 70, and their families say there is no plan for what happens in the future.

• Elaine Loughlin, Political Editor