Written answers

Thursday, 19 January 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he remains satisfied that all applicants for rehousing throughout the country are fully documented by the various local authorities, in view of the fact that many applicants have received correspondence to the effect that they had failed to reply to previous correspondence due to the fact that they had changed address, in some cases multiple changes of address, between assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2317/17]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The processing of applications for social housing support is a matter for individual housing authorities and is carried out in accordance with the timescales and rules set down in current housing legislation.

Under the application process, there is an obligation on applicants to notify their housing authority of any changes in their household circumstances such as change of address, household composition, employment and medical conditions and applicants are required to sign a declaration to this effect when completing the application form. It is a matter for the relevant housing authority to maintain the information submitted by applicants.

Under Regulation 28 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, a household’s qualification for support may be reviewed at the discretion of a housing authority, to ensure that the household continue to be eligible for, and in need, of social housing support. Authorities are also required, when directed by the Minister, to undertake a statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHAs) to ensure that applicants continue to qualify for support.

As part of the most recent Summary undertaken in 2016, guidance was issued by the Housing Agency advising housing authorities to write to relevant households, including those in transitional and shared or emergency accommodation if relevant, informing them of the assessment and seeking updated information where necessary.

In the event of an initial non-response by a household, local authorities were advised to contact the household again and to use all reasonable means of communication available to them in contacting the applicant. Authorities were also advised to undertake local advertising campaigns informing households about the Summary.

Where a number of attempts to contact a household failed to elicit a response, authorities were advised that the household’s application may be closed. However, housing authorities were also advised that should the household subsequently respond with the information required within a reasonable time, the application could be re-activated.

In line with a commitment given under the Social Housing Strategy 2020, SSHAs will now be carried out on an annual basis, rather than every three years as was done in the past. This change, as well as providing more up-to-date and comprehensive data on the numbers of households qualified for social housing support, should also reduce the incidence of cases referred to by the Deputy of local authorities experiencing difficulties in contacting social housing applicants in their area.

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