Housing and Health Ministers welcome “life-changing” benefits of home adaptations through Disabled Facilities Grant
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Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of adaptations on local homes through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of adaptations on local homes through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).
Ministers Lyons and Nesbitt commended the scheme after visiting a County Down family who recently benefitted from home modifications carried out through DFG funding.
Anne-Marie Kelly, whose son Conor has a diagnosis of autism and learning disabilities, described the adaptations to their family home in Downpatrick as “life changing”.
Minister Lyons said:
“It was inspiring to speak with Anne-Marie, to hear Conor’s story, and learn firsthand how Conor’s wellbeing and quality of life, and that of the Kelly family, have been greatly enhanced through the Disabled Facilities Grant.
“As Communities Minister, I am committed to ensuring that everyone has access to a safe and suitable home. I also want to ensure that adaptations through the Disabled Facilities Grant are available to all who need them.
“In the last financial year, over 800 adaptations, worth more than £13million, were approved for homes across Northern Ireland through the Disabled Facilities Grant.
“Visiting the Kelly home and seeing how it has been carefully tailored to meet Conor’s needs highlighted the significant impact these adaptations are having in supporting persons with disabilities and their families.”
Health Minister Nesbitt highlighted the joint working between the departments responsible for health and housing, saying:
“I welcomed the opportunity to meet Anne-Marie and hear about the real difference these bespoke adaptations have made to her family’s lives. Accessible housing is crucial to address health inequalities and improve people’s quality of life and general mental and physical wellbeing.
“Conor’s case is an excellent example of how interagency collaborative working between Trust occupational therapists, through their clinical assessment, and the NIHE Grants department can produce positive outcomes for disabled people and their families in how they lead their lives.
“This collaborative approach between our departments has also produced a new inclusive home design guide, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland which focuses on the needs of people with cognitive and sensory impairment. My hope is that this guide will ensure adaptations can be designed to meet the needs of individual families, providing essential modifications for a better quality of life.”
Following engagement with the Multi-Disciplinary Team, Conor’s Occupational Therapist recommended a ground floor bedroom and bathroom, including sound proofing to dampen outside noise, with work completed in 2024.
Anne-Marie Kelly said:
"The adaptations made to our home through the Disabled Facilities Grant have truly been life‑changing. They have given Conor a new sense of safety, confidence and reassurance that means the world to us as a family.
“I was delighted to welcome the Communities and Health Ministers into our home, show them the modifications first-hand and to share the positive impact adapting our home environment has had on our daily lives.
“Seeing the improvement in Conor’s quality of life has given us such peace of mind, and as a family we are deeply grateful for the support provided by Conor’s Occupational Therapist and the Housing Executive Grants Department through the Disabled Facilities Grant.”
The Disabled Facilities Grant is a means-tested grant administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on behalf of the Department for Communities, providing financial support for home adaptations recommended by an Occupational Therapist.
The Department for Communities is currently leading a review of the Disabled Facilities Grant, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Department of Health.
Minister Lyons said:
“I am eager to see continued progress in this area, and that’s why I intend bringing forward proposals for public consultation later this year to strengthen the administration of these grants and improve outcomes for those who rely on the scheme.”
For further information on the Disabled Facilities Grant, please visit NIHE
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption – Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt are pictured with Anne-Marie Kelly during a visit to the Kelly home which was modified for Anne-Marie’s son Conor through the Disabled Facilities Grant.
- The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a means tested grant administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) on behalf of the Department for Communities. It helps adapt or modify a home for a person with a disability based on the recommendation of an occupational therapist.
- The purpose of the Disabled Facilities Grant is to support persons living with disabilities where they require major adaptations to be carried out to their homes to ensure their safety and help maintain their independence.
- The Department for Communities, in partnership with the Department of Health and Northern Ireland Housing Executive, is currently leading a review into the operation of the Disabled Facilities Grant.
- Designing Homes for All: An inclusive design guide to support people with cognitive and sensory impairment focuses on the needs of service users with cognitive/sensory impairment and is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.
- The aim of the new Designing Homes for All: An inclusive design guide is to support all stakeholders involved in housing design, and to ensure people and their families living with cognitive and sensory impairment can get the correct adaptations to their home.
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