Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
228. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; if a response will issue to their query; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58329/21]
View answerThe allocation of suitable housing to tenants on Clare County Council's social housing waiting list is a matter for the Council and one in which I as Minister have no role.
The Council will have a range of options for the provision of housing solutions including properties that the Council owns, that are leased, rented or contracted to the Council and properties owned and provided by Approved Housing Bodies. This includes, for example, the 51 recently completed homes at Shannon. However in the decisions to allocate available social homes, the local authorities must have regard to their waiting list and their allocation scheme/order of priorities. Again these are matters that are the responsibility of the Council and my Department has no role in determining their priority for allocations.
As a general approach, I have asked local authorities to focus their efforts and resources on new construction and to rely to a significantly lesser degree on acquiring second hand properties. This is particularly important given the risk that private purchasers including first time buyers, could be disadvantaged in competing against Councils for acquisitions.
