City Hall is to update their records to identify wheelchair accessible housing in Cork

CORK City Council is set to update its housing databases to provide more accurate information on housing needs for the disabled and wheelchair accessible accommodation.

Councillor Thomas Moloney has asked the council to review its social housing list and identify the number of households which require wheelchair accessible housing and maintain a register of wheelchair accessible housing occupants.

Cork City Council has formed a working group within the housing directorate whose purpose is to provide a delivery pipeline with quarterly reviews to coordinate and accelerate the delivery of accessible properties including new builds to meet the needs of applicants.

The Government’s Housing Agency has already stated that data capture mechanisms currently in place at the council need to be upgraded.

Applications for social housing within the council are due to be changed in the coming months to include specific identification of wheelchair accessible and wheelchair liveable accommodation requirements.

A report on the matter provided to Mr Moloney stated: “...the housing directorate of the council will comply with all requirements stipulated by the Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government with respect to all capital applications and related appraisals with regard to all new social housing provision in the city. All new housing provision is required to comply with the building regulations which stipulate a minimum level of accessibility.

“The housing directorate is currently taking measures to update its data capture software to report more specifically on accessibility data in the housing stock and to synchronise with the Minister’s requirements.” Mr Moloney has also called for every social housing project to contain a minimum of 7% wheelchair accessible homes.

The council is currently preparing a strategic plan on disability and members of the public and councillors will be asked to make submissions.