DFI’s submission to Department of Housing on Statement of Strategy

Issued on April 1 2025

DFI made a submission to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Statement of Strategy 2025–2027. As 21.5% of the population in Ireland live with a disability, the Department has a central role in ensuring that disabled people have access to appropriate housing, can live in their communities, and participate fully in society.

Housing and planning policy must be aligned with Ireland’s commitments under the UN CRPD and developed in close collaboration with other departments, particularly the Department of Health; of Children, Equality and Disability, and the HSE.

Key Priorities

  1. Housing and Independent Living
  • End the inappropriate placement of over 1,000 people with disabilities under 65 in nursing homes and progress de-congregation efforts.
  • Embed Universal Design in all housing policy and revise Part M of the Building Regulations accordingly. At least 7.5% of new social housing should meet UD+ or UD++ standards.
  • Streamline and expand the Housing Adaptation Grant scheme to reflect real disability costs.
  • Ensure housing supports are aligned with community-based services to enable independent living.
  • Increase investment in supported housing and fund Disability Housing Technical Advisors in all Local Authorities.
  1. Local Government and Participation
  • Establish national standards for disability access and inclusion at local authority level.
  • Ensure meaningful engagement with disabled people in planning structures such as SPCs, PPNs, and HDSGs.
  • Integrate disability perspectives into City and County Development Plans and Local Economic and Community Plans.
  1. Electoral Participation
  • Ensure polling stations and the electoral process are fully accessible.
  • Act on recommendations from the Electoral Commission PEER Reports and recent research on disabled political candidates.
  1. Public Sector Duty and Training
  • Fully implement the Department’s Public Sector Duty Plan.
  • Provide Disability Equality and Inclusion training to all Department staff, especially in customer-facing roles.

People with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers in housing, planning and participation. The Department has a critical opportunity to embed accessibility and inclusion across its work. A fully inclusive housing strategy must address disability as a core, cross-cutting issue—central to delivering sustainable communities for all.