I recently met the Irish Wheelchair Association to discuss housing, universal design, Part M and wheelchair-liveable accommodation. Do housing need and demand assessments carried out by local authorities take account of the number of wheelchair-liveable properties that should be included? Liveable is a slightly higher design than just accessible. I want to know whether those numbers are taken into account.

I work directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on designs for those with disability and require disability access. I have seen in most local authorities that we are designing for all stages of life in many of our homes. We have asked local authorities, through the housing need and demand assessment, HNDA, process to be able to assess in each of their areas demand among people with special needs and disability, especially around access. We seek that within the HDNA. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I have worked directly on this. We have five specific designs in place. The design template has gone to the local authorities which will also help to speed up the process for approval of new social housing schemes and, indeed, private schemes.