Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2022
78. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process for checks when a council tenant is being transferred to another property; and if they are Garda vetted. [18564/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process when a person is known to the authorities for being involved in criminal activity but is being transferred into a new council property; and if there is a process for the new neighbours to object and keep their identity hidden. [18565/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.
Requests for housing transfers are matters solely for local authorities in line with their respective allocation schemes, made in accordance with s.22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations.Local authorities are responsible for assessing housing applicants, taking into account factors such as the condition and affordability of existing accommodation, medical and compassionate grounds, etc. Thereafter, the authority prioritises the needs of approved applicants in accordance with its allocation scheme. Ultimately, it is a matter for the local authority to decide the conditions to be met in relation to transfer applications.
The social housing application form, prescribed by the Regulations, requires applicants to provide details of any convictions relating to anti-social behaviour and public order offences. Section 14 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 provides that local authorities may refuse to allocate or defer allocation of a dwelling to a person if they consider the person is, or has been, engaged in anti-social behaviour, or if the allocation of a dwelling to that person would not be in the interest of good estate management.
Each local authority has a customer service charter and complaints procedure for persons who wish to make a complaint in respect of any of the services they provide. A complainant may, if they are not satisfied with the Council’s decision on such complaints, refer the complaint to the Ombudsman.
