Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
255. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which properties are assessed and categorised by local authorities like SDCC for families with specific medical and accessibility needs; and the oversight that is in place to ensure these categorisations are accurately applied and communicated. [11280/24]
View answer256. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cases where discrepancies arise between initial assessments and subsequent communications from local authority personnel (details supplied), the mechanisms that are in place for families to seek review or appeal these decisions to ensure their homes are made suitable for their needs without undue delay or confusion. [11281/24]
View answer257. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarification on the responsibilities and accountability within local authorities for ensuring that properties allocated as medical relets meet the requisite standards and adaptations as promised to families with disabled members. [11282/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255, 256 and 257 together.
Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain households, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.
The 2011 Assessment Regulations prescribes, within the Regulations, the housing support application form which must be completed. These Regulations also provide that the local authority may request additional information where it is necessary to assess the applicant’s eligibility and need for housing support. In the case of a household with a member seeking prioritisation on the basis of disability the HMD1 form must be completed by medical professionals to guide the local authority on the nature and extent of the disability concerned, and how these may be alleviated by appropriate housing supports. The purpose of the HMD1 form is to obtain the relevant information in order that the local authority may assess the applicant’s condition in order to award a priority to the applicant, if this is merited.
Therefore the assessment of applications for housing support, including medical priority, is a matter for individual local authorities in accordance with their allocation schemes.
I understand local authorities have internal complaints and appeals systems which may be used to appeal cases. Such arrangements are a matter for the local authorities concerned.
