Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Taoiseach about the local connection rule and the commitment on page 55 of the programme for Government to introduce a social housing passport to allow a household to move from one local authority housing waiting list to another. The local connection rule is still causing significant issues and problems, perhaps not on the same scale as last year, but people are still being refused emergency accommodation because of the rule. People have been told to leave emergency accommodation because of this rule. It creates a huge problem for people in emergency accommodation who want to progress out of it and into more permanent housing. The rule makes no sense. It can mean that a person who is originally from Dublin and has moved to Galway to take up a job is recorded on some database as having his or her last employment in Galway. If the person moves back to Dublin and become homeless, he or she is refused the services and supports he or she needs. It is a bureaucratic rule and it needs to go. Will that commitment in the programme for Government be realised? What is the Government doing to sort out and get rid of the rule?

See this speech in context