Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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86. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider local authorities’ definition of "adequately housed" whereby grown adults still living in their parents’ home are deemed to be "adequately housed" and not included on the social housing list, and, while meeting income limits and other criteria, are forced into the private rented sector to get onto the social housing waiting lists, thereby putting more pressure on the HAP rented sector; if he will consider allowing persons in this category to get on social housing waiting lists while still living at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11317/23]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister of State consider local authorities' definition of "adequately housed", where grown adults are living in their parents' home or another house, are deemed to be adequately housed and, on that basis, are not then included on the social housing list? They meet the other criteria like income thresholds and such. In some cases they feel they are forced into seeking private rentals, which reduces supply, and we all know the issues that exist in relation to supply, especially with the removal of the eviction ban. It is a small solution we need to look at.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Adult children living with their parents can apply for and be deemed to qualify for social housing support, subject to meeting the eligibility and need criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated social housing assessment regulations. Once qualified, such applicants are automatically placed on the relevant local authority waiting list. They do not need to move into the private rented sector to be placed on the list, so it is important to clarify that. Indeed, the summary of social housing assessments, which measures the number and composition of households on the waiting list, includes a category of applicants qualified for social housing but who remain living with their parents. The most recent summary, conducted in November 2021, is available on our Department's website. It shows 25% of households qualified for support are adult children living with their parents.

Local authorities consider an applicant's existing accommodation arrangements, including where they are living with their parents, when prioritising the allocation of a dwelling. Applicants living with their parents may be considered a lower priority compared with other applicants, such as those in homeless or other precarious accommodation. Such decisions are matters entirely for local authorities themselves in accordance with their respective statutory allocation schemes and their day-to-day management of the social housing system.

I will come back with the specifics on County Louth, but just to clarify, it is the case that adults living with their parents can be deemed to qualify for social housing support.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I will come back on that because there are a huge number of people who find that, if they are living in their parents' home, they will be told they are adequately housed. If someone is in a situation of technical overcrowding or whatever, he or she will then be eligible to get on the housing list. This is something that needs to be looked at because the problem is people are being forced into the private rental sector so they at least feel they are clocking time on the housing list. Everyone is aware they will be waiting for six, seven or eight years. This needs to be looked at at departmental level and then a directive or whatever else and a discussion needs to happen with local authorities, including Louth County Council, about this. I will be very interested in the Minister of State's answer to that.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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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.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I request that some clarity and a directive be given out on this basis because we have a particular problem at this time and it is reducing supply. We all know the issues that exist and that they will get worse. We are already dealing with people who are in absolute fear of evictions. We have had the removal of the eviction ban and I cannot imagine how I, my office and some of our councillors will deal with this. I had hoped I already had that answer on some level and I was going to ask for my usual leeway regarding questions.

What are the departmental rules on the purchases of long-term rentals with the council where the landlord is looking to sell? There have been issues in the recent past. I know Louth County Council has purchased a number of houses where people were in housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancies, but we need to look at streamlining the conditions, probably across every local authority.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The issue is certainly not coming from a want in our Department. In terms of the schemes and capital acquisitions, I believe there will be 1,500 this year, and the Minister has given a commitment to pushing that forward if the demand exists.

Regarding the prioritisation of applicants in accordance with the local authority's allocation scheme, it is the reserved function of the elected members of a local authority to make those priorities in accordance with the Housing Act. That is critically important.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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They will get HAP tenancies, but it is a workaround. They cannot stay in that house.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I appreciate the point the Deputy makes but the critical point is that the responsibility lies with individual local authorities. The schemes, supports and certainly the funding are in place but local authorities need to be proactive in this regard.