Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2022
265. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage it is intended that councils will maintain standing waiting lists for affordable housing; if not, if priority for early applications will only apply after the advertisement of each new scheme. [34101/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation of homes under the Local Authority Affordable Housing Scheme is laid out in Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and accompanying Regulations. The Regulations can be found at the following link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/184/made/en/print.
Homes to be made available under the scheme may vary by size, price, location, and other factors. Each individual affordable housing scheme must be advertised separately. Applications for each scheme will only be accepted once the scheme itself is advertised. Allocation of these homes thereafter will be in accordance with the Scheme of Priority adopted by each local authority.
Regulation 5 of the Regulations specifically governs the allocation of housing under the scheme. Regulation 5 (1) (b) states that, where certain listed criteria have been applied, and the number of eligible applicants still exceeds the number of dwellings for which applications have been accepted, a housing authority shall give priority to the eligible applicants in the order in which their applications were received.
It is not intended that standing waiting lists for affordable housing will be maintained.
