Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
464. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the exceptional circumstances provided for in legislation which would allow persons (details supplied) to be included on the housing list of Tipperary County Council if they did not meet the standard criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41243/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant housing 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. In order to qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing list, an applicant must be assessed by the authority concerned as meeting all of the eligibility and need criteria set down in the legislation. Where a household is deemed by a housing authority to meet all of the eligibility criteria, which primarily relate to income and alternative accommodation, the authority may determine that the household has a housing need, and thus qualifies for support, on the basis of particular household circumstances or exceptional medical or compassionate grounds.
Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the housing authority concerned. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister's power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to housing functions is not to be construed as enabling him or her to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case with which a housing authority is or may be concerned.
