Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
52. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to change the requirement for applicants for social housing to have medical certificates signed by two practitioners as this is placing a cost on them of up to €120, and more in some cases. [32920/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local 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 2011, as amended. The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain households, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.
A revised Social Housing Support Application Form was introduced with effect from 19 April 2021. The new form includes an additional form which an applicant who wants to apply for assessment for priority support based on medical need or disability must complete (HMD-Form 1). The new form is for anyone applying for social housing or a social housing transfer due to a disability or medical grounds. It provides for a variety and wider range of healthcare professionals to complete the form than previous iterations. This can include professionals involved with the person with a disability or medical condition, such as a consultant, general practitioner, mental health nurse, public health nurse, occupational therapist or social worker. The requirement for two healthcare professionals from this wider cohort ensures that the local authority has enough information to enable it to make informed decisions on the appropriate housing need of the applicant.
Where an applicant household cannot provide the necessary documentation, the local authority has discretion to request alternate documentation in order to satisfy itself in relation to any or all of the requirements. I am therefore satisfied that there is no necessity to change the requirements.
