Unique Ratoath project for disabled

A UNIQUE project, which will provide 12 disabled people with the opportunity to live independently, is about to come on stream in Ratoath.

Some 12 apartments have been build by the Ratoath Independent Living Initiative and will shortly be allocated to their new tenants.

The state-of-the-art apartments are designed to make independent living possible for individuals with a range of disabilities.

While they include all sorts of impressive devices, which make them perfect for those with disabilities, the units look like regular apartments and could be used by most sections of the community.

As the apartments near completion, a selection process will now begin before the allocation of the units to the new tenants.

The Ratoath Independent Living Initiative is the idea of local Colr Nick Killian, who was working as CEO of the Irish Association For Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus when the plan was first mooted.

"Through my work, I met a lot of young people over the age of 21 who, because of their disability, could not afford to purchase their own home or rent appropriate accommodation," he said.

Colr Killian was aware that developers, McGarrell Reilly, were planning a development of 387 units at Steeplechase, Ratoath, and that they would be obliged to provide social housing as part of that development.

"I discussed the possibility of using their social housing obligation to provide apartments for people with disabilities with them and they were very positive about it," Colr Killian said.

A local committee was set up to get the project off the ground.

"I was fortunate to surround myself with very willing and able people from different walks of life who were able to commit themselves to a huge amount of work," he added.

The committee was made up of parents of children with disabilities and others including the Chairman, Dr Fergal Quinn, a medical consultant, Secretary, Teresa Lowe, a barrister and former TV presenter and Marie Byrne, who was housing officer with Meath County Council.

It was decided to provide housing which the tenants could live in all their lives and which could be adapted as they grew older.

They successfully negotiated €2.4 million in grants from the Department of the Environment through Meath County Council and they received a grant of €275,000 from the dormant accounts fund through the National Disability Authority while the HSE contributed a grant of €4,500.

The next step was to appoint John Scott as project manager and he took the development from planning to completion 

The building works cost €3 million with the developers providing the site free of charge.

The apartments are conveniently located close to the centre of Ratoath with good accessible footpaths to the village centre and bus stops.

All doors, external and internal, are suitable for electric wheelchair use and a range of devices have been incorporated into the design to make the apartments more suitable for people with disabilities.

The 'keys' to each apartment are fobs which deactivate locks more easily than conventional keys. Residents can let in visitors through a video entrance system, which can be answered from three locations within the apartment.

Curtains and blinds can be operated by remote control and kitchen units where the sink and electric hob are adjustable to individual height requirements have been installed. Overhead cupboards are height-adjustable.  

There are slider wardrobes with a clothes rail that can be lowered in the bedrooms and all electrical fitting are adapted to be easily used by someone with a disability.

All apartments have their own shower rooms but there is a communal spa room with air-blown spa and a residents' communal launderette fitted with industrial and standard-sized washing machine and clothes dryers.  

All floor coverings incorporate a chemical that reduces the effort required for cleaning and all the apartments have balconies plus a communal garden.

According to Colr Killian, the big task now will be allocating the apartments. A selection committee has been put together and each applicant will be awarded points for a variety of different criteria. Colr Killian pointed out that he is not on the selection committee.

Applicants must be on the housing list in Meath or another local authority and the committee will be ensuring that the applicants are capable of living independently.

The initiative will own and manage the property but the tenants will be responsible for everything else including organising their own medical services.

John Scott said that the apartments are fully integrated into the Steeplechase estate.

"The apartments are creating an opportunity for residents to increase their independence and self-esteem and, because they are accessible, it will encourage their participation in the social life of Ratoath," he said.

Brian Reilly, McGarrell Reilly, said they were delighted to get involved in a project like this. He said that the development was the first of its kind and had set a precedent.