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Social and Affordable Housing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Ceisteanna (647)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

647. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if additional resources will be provided to Dublin City Council to allow its choice-based letting scheme to resume. [43396/19]

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Freagraí scríofa

Choice Based Letting (CBL) is a method whereby available social housing stock is let by being openly advertised by local authorities to persons on the social housing waiting list. This allows qualified applicants to 'register an interest' in available homes. 

Applicants can act on their own initiative to respond to adverts and express an interest in dwellings that they would like to live in, rather than waiting for an authority to offer them a dwelling. This approach offers more choice and involvement for applicant households in selecting a new home, thereby reducing the likelihood of a refusal, and helping to build sustainable tenancies and stable communities.

The Social Housing Allocation (Amendment) Regulations 2016 required all local authorities, if they had not already done so, to provide for CBL as a method of allocation for social housing in their allocation schemes. The way in which CBL is implemented, including decisions on which properties are to be offered through it, is a matter for the individual authority concerned. However, it must be done in accordance with the relevant regulations and their own scheme of priority.

I am advised by Dublin City Council that they are currently operating a manual paper CBL model for selected units and have indicated their intention to implement a fully integrated online CBL system in the near future.

Given the clear benefits offered by CBL, my Department continues to liaise with the local authorities to ensure that it is implemented as widely as possible across the country.  My Department intends to meet with local authority Directors of Housing in November to examine the potential to increase the rollout and use of CBL by local authorities and all aspects of its operation will be discussed, including any perceived barriers. We will continue to support its use and expect that local authorities will also continue efforts to implement CBL in their areas.

Question No. 648 answered with Question No. 646.
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