Cork council doubles target on providing social housing to people with disabilities

The highest percentage of allocations was seen in the West Cork Division, where exactly half the 90 homes let to tenants were provided to those with disabilities.

The North Cork Division came in second, with 50 out of 215 houses allocated to the disabled — a rate of 23%.

However, the rate for the Southern Division was 14%, with disabled people getting 37 of the 261 houses given out. 

It is understood that is because it is the most heavily populated division and there is a huge demand for properties from families in dire need of accommodation.

Nevertheless, the average across the whole county came in at 23%, which is 3% higher than the council's promised targets.

For various reasons there were 20 refusals or offers not taken up by people with disabilities.

In a report, the council also gave a rough breakdown of the different types of disabilities successful applicants had.

In total, 50 were registered as having a physical disability. The next highest category was 43, who were listed as having sensory issues. 

This was followed by 27 with what was described as mental health problems, and a further 12 who had intellectual disabilities.

The council adapts the houses it allocated to people to try and make it easier for them to live in.

Meanwhile, the county council has also so far this year undertaken two major extensions and 33 more minor adaptations on homes belonging to disabled people, again to suit their needs.

In total, it spent €1.674m on the refurbishments. The bulk of the money, €1.5m, came from a Government grant and the shortfall was made up by the local authority.

The council has also helped administer grant aid for older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their accommodation.

It does this in three ways — through Housing Adaptation Grants, Mobility Aid Grants and under the Housing Aid for Older People Grant.

To date this year, it has paid out 338 of these grants to successful applicants, amounting to nearly €2.338m.

The highest number, 247, were paid under the Housing Aid for Older People Grant. 

There were 86 who benefitted from Housing Adaptation Grants and five from Mobility Aid Grants.

Council staff are still working on processing the payment to a further 293 successful applications across the three grant schemes, the work for which is estimated to cost nearly €2.197m.

Again, the highest number of applications, 201, is from older people seeking to adapt their properties to make it easier for them to get around.

Many of these grants include requests to create downstairs bedrooms and bathrooms.

The council report said it was also working on a further 235 yet to be approved applications under the three grants, and they have an estimated total of €1.962m.

The biggest number still waiting for approval, 129, are again seeking the Housing Aid for Older People Grant.