Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 September 2019
686. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new housing applicants registered with the various local authorities throughout the country in each of the past three years to date; the number housed by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37730/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area are set out in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). Since 2016, the summary process has been carried out on an annual basis.
The most recent available summary, which was carried out in 2018, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as at 11 June 2018 and can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2018_-_key_findings.pdf.
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.
My Department is currently working with the Housing Agency on the 2019 summary and is examining the data sets currently collected and any potential new data sets that might be collected in the context of future summaries.
The allocation of social housing support is a matter for each individual local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations. Section 22 of the 2009 Act requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
My Department does not hold information on allocations of the specific type requested by the Deputy.
