Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
233. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures which are in place to verify the authenticity of performance records and statements from local authorities in relation to housing delivery, allocation, voids and turn-around times; if he is concerned that false information could be furnished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28826/22]
View answerSocial housing statistical returns are completed by each local authority and returned to my Department on a quarterly basis. There is a robust process in place to ensure the data provided by local authorities is accurate. Each quarter the statistical returns are compiled by the Statistics and Data Analytics Unit and validated by the Social Housing Delivery teams in my Department. Each social housing home provided and returned on a local authority schedule is validated as having gone through the necessary approvals process in terms of design, procurement and funding.
The National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) is the national independent oversight body for the local government sector in Ireland. It was established in July 2014 under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 to provide independent oversight of the local government sector (local authorities and associated bodies), including Regional Assemblies. NOAC has a broad range of functions, covering all local authority activities and involving the scrutiny of performance generally and financial performance specifically.
Statistics in relation to local authority performance, at a point in time, are published by NOAC in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock including the average re-letting times for vacant properties. As part of this process NOAC validate the data provided through site visits with local authorities and desktop data reviews undertaken by the NOAC Secretariat. The most recent report, relating to 2020, is available on the NOAC website at the following link: noac.ie/2020-performance-indicator-report/.
The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation of properties, is solely a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated Regulations.
