To ask the Minister for Communities whether he has any plans to instruct Planning Offices, within local councils, to give special attention to planning applications for occupational therapist-approved adaptions to the homes of people living with disabilities, given the one year period for the completion of work prescribed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive under the terms of its payment scheme.

The Housing Executive has advised that in relation to Disabled Facilities Grants, if planning approval is required, this is requested along with all other grant documentation before it issues approval to carry out the works.

Following approval, although work should be completed within 12 months, the Housing Executive has advised that it is flexible and will allow additional time in order to complete the work.

Furthermore while the Housing Executive request that all grant documentation is submitted within 6 months, it is only after 12 months that it would consider closing an application, and even then would not do so if the applicant still wishes to proceed and is awaiting statutory approval such as Planning.

On the basis of the apparent flexibility in the process I currently have no plans to ask Planning Offices to give special attention to applications for OT approved adaptations to the homes of people living with disabilities.