Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
599. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of children accommodated by each local authority each year from 2011 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3876/19]
View answer600. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons on the housing list in each local authority in each of the years 2011 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3877/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together.
My Department does not hold information on the allocation of social housing supports to households on the waiting list. The allocation of such support is a matter for each local authority in accordance with its allocation scheme made under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Section 22 of the Act requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
Under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2009, I, as Minister, have no function in relation to the assessment of individual housing applications and the allocation of accommodation to eligible households, which are matters solely for local authorities. It is worth noting that Section 2 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 defines a, “household”, as, “a person who lives alone or 2 or more persons who live together”. Children are considered to have a housing need as part of a household.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area are provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments, SSHA. The most recently conducted SSHA, carried out in June 2018, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as of 11 June 2018 (the count date) and is available on my Department’s website at the link. The SSHA report includes breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories.
Report 2018
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2018_-_key_findings.pdf.
The SSHA has been conducted on an annual basis since 2016, prior to which it was carried out tri-annually. Results from all available years sought commencing in 2011 are available on my Department’s website at the following links.
Report 2011
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad%2C27864%2Cen.pdf.
Report 2013
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad%2C34857%2Cen.pdf.
Report 2016
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2016.pdf.
Report 2017
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/sha_summary_2017.pdf.
It is important to note that only the results of the 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018 summaries are directly comparable with each other. These summaries were carried out using a standardised methodology as specified by the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011. Previous summaries were not carried out under the current standardised assessment regime for social housing support which came into effect on 1 April 2011.
It should also be noted that the SSHA is a point-in-time exercise and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the list.
My Department is currently working with the Housing Agency on the proposed 2019 summary. I expect the results of that summary to be available early in the final quarter of this year.
