Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Again just to state, it is down to the constituent local authorities to deem the priorities for eligibility for social housing. They do that very effectively throughout the country, and that is critically important. The fact is adult children can be and are deemed to qualify for social housing support in the Deputy's county, County Louth. Some 355 households or 27% of those on the housing waiting list are adult children living with parents, so it is not an insignificant number. It is the priority for that local authority, like it is for other local authorities, to assess housing based on the absolute and most urgent need for housing. The number of households on waiting lists has decreased from 32,353 households compared with the assessment conducted in September 2016, so we are seeing positive trends in terms of reductions.

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