Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2021
72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of families who have in the year to date applied for local authority or similar housing, affordable housing and or special needs housing by county with a view to responding at the earliest possible date to this need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23513/21]
View answerDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).
The most recent summary, conducted in November 2020, shows that 61,880 households were assessed as qualified for and being in need of social housing support. This represents a decrease of 6,813 households or 9.9% on the last assessment in June 2019. Since 2016, the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 61,880, a reduction of 32.4%.
In relation to the question posed by the Deputy regarding the number of families that have in the year to date applied for local authority or special needs housing, information of this specific type is not held by my Department.
Below is the link to the summary report for 2020 which includes breakdowns by each local authority, across a range of categories, including details on households with a specific accommodation requirement arising from a disability. It should be noted that the SSHA is a point in time snapshot of the demand for social housing support in each local authority area and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the housing waiting lists. 2020 Report https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/970ea-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2020-key-findings/#:~:text=The%20Summary%20of%20Social%20Housing,is%20not%20currently%20being%20met
Each local authority has a Housing and Disability Steering Group to plan for and oversee the implementation of the local authority’s five-year Strategic Plan under the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2016-2021. These groups were established in 31 local authorities to enhance the existing ad hoc inter-agency cooperation and to bring a more coordinated approach to the delivery of housing and related services. They are made up of representatives from the local authority, Approved Housing Bodies, the HSE (with a representative from both Disability Services and Mental Health), and sectoral representatives’ groups from the areas of the four disability categories.
The Groups are also tasked with reviewing the targets in the local authorities’ Strategic Plans to ensure that they are realistic yet challenging and that they result in increased delivery of appropriate/varied types of housing for people with disabilities, and to also ensure that while the targets are based on the identified need (Housing Waiting List) that they take cognisance of emerging need as well. Since 2016, allocations of homes to persons with a disability has ranged from 10-12% of all allocations. The existing strategy is under review and public consultation and research has begun. It is intended that a new strategy will be published by the end of 2021.
In relation to affordable housing, the Affordable Housing Bill 2021 was approved by cabinet on the 4th of May 2021 – it is the first ever comprehensive standalone legislation providing for affordable housing measures. This will give a statutory basis for the introduction of the Affordable Purchase and Cost Rental schemes.
