To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any steps his Department has in place to measure the effectiveness of the Disabled Facilities Grant (i) in meeting Occupational Therapist recommended adaptations; and (ii) in how it is managed and operated by the Housing Executive.

My Department is currently carrying out a review of NIHE-Administered Private Sector Grants, including the Disabled Facilities Grant, and in this regard is working closely with the Department of Health and the Housing Executive to identify improvements. A public consultation on proposals for change will take place this year.

(i) Health Trust Occupational Therapists (OTs) are involved throughout the Disabled Facilities Grant process to ensure the recommended adaptations are met and are appropriate to meet the needs of a disabled person. OTs review all plans and any issues are addressed through engagement with the applicant and their architect where necessary, until both the Housing Executive and the OT are satisfied that the client’s needs are met. An OT must formally approve the plans before any grant approval is issued. Upon completion of the works, the OT is required to inspect and confirm that the adaptations meet their client’s needs before the payment of grantaid.

(ii) The Housing Executive has a structured Disabled Facilities Grant process and measures performance and delivery against defined service standards. Customer satisfaction surveys are completed and survey results reviewed on a monthly basis.