Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding a previous commitment (details supplied) to implement emergency measures to rehouse home owners affected by the defective blocks issue that are concerned for their own and families' safety; his plans to address the issue of affected home owners having a mortgage when determining eligibility for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52069/17]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The commitment given to the homeowners referred to was in respect of the actions being taken by my Department to implement the recommendations of the report of the expert panel established to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. My Department, in particular, is prioritising the implementation of recommendations 1 and 2 of that report.

With regard to recommendation 1, the National Standards Authority of Ireland Technical Committee, which was established to scope and fast track the development of a standardised protocol, is in the process of finalising that standardised protocol, which will be available for public consultation shortly.

With regard to recommendation 2, my Department has been in contact with Engineers Ireland in relation to the establishment of a register of competent engineers for homeowner/affected parties reference.  It should be noted that Engineers Ireland has provided assurance that it will collaborate with my Department, the National Standards Authority of Ireland and relevant parties on measures to establish such a register. 

In addition, and in light of the information contained in the report,  I am currently considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in the two counties.

In relation to the issues raised concerning social housing, the housing regulations provide that a household that applies for long-term social housing support is not eligible for that support if the household member owns alternative accommodation that the household could reasonably be expected to use to meet its housing need, either by occupying it or by selling it, and using the proceeds to secure suitable accommodation.

However, in determining a household’s need for social housing support, local authorities are required to have regard to the household’s current accommodation, specifically its fitness for human habitation, having regard to the matters set out in Housing Act 1966, which includes the stability of the structure. Decisions on the eligibility of individual households for social housing support are a matter for the local authority concerned.