Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
1972. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing applicants who have applied but whose applications have been refused for the medical and disability priority list, by local authority in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37294/17]
View answer1973. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing applicants who are on the medical and disability priority list by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37295/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1972 and 1973 together.
The assessment of applications for social housing support, and management of the lists of qualified households, including the recording of data on the number of applications refused, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations.
Detailed information on the number of households currently on local authorities medical and disability priority lists is not held by my Department. The management of priority lists is a matter for individual housing authorities and the numbers fluctuate continually as, for example, households are allocated housing in accordance with an authority’s allocation scheme.
The allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for individual housing authorities in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the 2009 Act. Each housing authority is required to make an allocation scheme specifying, among other things, the manner of, and the order of priority for, the allocation of dwellings to households and classes of households on the waiting list. Allocation schemes may also contain provisions for exceptional or emergency cases, allowing immediate housing outside of normal waiting list priorities, should circumstances warrant it.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority area are provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments. The most recent figures available are the results of the 2016 Summary which are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2016.pdf .
It is important to note that the summary data does not refer to Local Authorities priority lists.
In line with a commitment given in the Social Housing Strategy 2020, future summaries will now be carried out an annual basis. I expect the results of the 2017 summary to be available for publication later this year.
