Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt have visited a County Down family to see first-hand how the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) has transformed their home, as new figures reveal rising demand for the scheme alongside growing waiting lists and unspent funds.
During the visit to the Kelly family home in Downpatrick, the ministers toured adaptations funded by the grant that have created a safer environment for Conor, who has autism and learning disabilities. The visit comes as the Department for Communities prepares to launch a public consultation on strengthening the grant system later this year, following data showing applications have surged while completions have fallen.
A “Life-Changing” Adaptation
Anne-Marie Kelly, whose son Conor has autism and learning disabilities, described the modifications to their family home as “life-changing.” Following engagement with a Multi-Disciplinary Team, Conor’s Occupational Therapist recommended a ground-floor bedroom and bathroom, including soundproofing 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.”
Ministers Highlight Joint Working
The ministers used the visit to highlight collaboration between the Department for Communities and the Department of Health. The DFG is a means-tested grant administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) on behalf of the Department for Communities, providing financial support for home adaptations recommended by an Occupational Therapist.
In the last financial year, over 800 adaptations worth more than £13 million were approved for homes across Northern Ireland through the scheme.
Communities Minister Gordon 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.
“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 Mike Nesbitt emphasised the health benefits of accessible housing:
“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.”
Rising Demand Meets Delivery Challenges
While ministers celebrated individual success stories, recent data obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveals systemic pressures. Demand for Disabled Facilities Grants has risen sharply, increasing from 493 applications in 2024/25 to 711 in 2025/26—an additional 218 households seeking support.
However, delivery is moving in the opposite direction. The number of adaptations completed fell from 248 to 197 during the same period—a reduction of 51. Meanwhile, the waiting list has grown significantly, from 67 households in 2024/25 to 112 in 2025/26.
Research from the Motor Neurone Disease Association has also highlighted concerns that the DFG process is “simply too slow” for people with progressive, life-limiting conditions, calling for formal fast-track processes and the waiving of means tests for such applicants. Additionally, questions have been raised about unspent funding, with reports indicating £6.6 million in DFG funding remained unallocated while 112 households awaited adaptations.
Review and Consultation Planned
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. This includes the development of Designing Homes for All, an inclusive design guide to support people with cognitive and sensory impairment—the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.
Minister Lyons confirmed plans to consult the public on improvements:
“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, visit NIHE.
Key Questions for the Forthcoming Consultation
- How will the forthcoming consultation address the widening gap between rising application numbers and falling completion rates?
- Will the review consider implementing fast-track processes and waiving means tests for people with progressive, life-limiting conditions such as motor neurone disease?
- What measures will be introduced to ensure unspent funding is allocated to the 112 households currently waiting for adaptations?
- How will the new inclusive design guide for cognitive and sensory impairment be integrated into existing assessment and delivery processes?
- Can the interagency collaborative model demonstrated in Conor Kelly’s case be scaled to clear the growing backlog of cases?