Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I move amendment No. 24:

In page 18, line 25, to delete "need;" and substitute the following:

"need. In particular housing need assessments must have regard to the need for housing of people who—

(i) are homeless,

(ii) are members of the Travelling Community,

(iii) are living in accommodation that is unfit for human habitation or is materially unsuitable for their adequate housing,

(iv) are living in overcrowded accommodation,

(v) are sharing accommodation with another person or persons and who, in the opinion of the housing authority, have a reasonable requirement for separate accommodation,

(vi) are young persons leaving institutional care or without family accommodation,

(vii) are in need of accommodation for medical or compassionate reasons,

(viii) are elderly,

(ix) are disabled,

(x) are, in the opinion of the housing authority, not reasonably able to meet the cost of the accommodation which they are occupying or to obtain suitable alternative accommodation;".

This amendment has been debated on Committee Stage and I put it down again to emphasise the need to specify the different categories of household need rather than simply leaving them entirely up to the Minister. In the spirit of the Bill I felt it important to give some clearer guidelines on the basis for the need.