Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While arrangements are in place to allow for the movement of HAP tenants between local authorities, wider consideration is being given to allowing movement between the social housing list in one local authority and another. The programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including a social housing “passport” to allow households to move from one local authority waiting list to another. An initial scoping exercise was carried out, which identified a range of practical and administrative issues, including those related to the maintenance of seniority on housing waiting lists, local connection requirements, the efficient allocation of existing housing stock and resource implications for local authorities. Further work is required to assess the practical application of such a scheme in the context of other reform package measures.

There is already a degree of flexibility regarding waiting lists. The four Dublin local authorities have arrangements allowing social housing applicants to apply for housing in up to two of the other Dublin authorities simultaneously, and similar arrangements apply in Cork and Galway. This matter will continue to be given consideration by the Department. I will certainly bring it back to the Minister. While it is good news that the lady and her family have been offered a social house, which is serious progress, given there is pressure on schools and everything else, some consideration must be given. I will talk to the Minister about that.

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