Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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69. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is taking action to ensure that persons suffering from chronic illnesses which put their health at serious risk can access prioritisation for social housing as part of the Housing for All plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45514/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I must point out that the allocation of homes to those on social housing waiting lists is a matter for local authorities in exercise of their statutory housing function. Where a household request a priority based on the health needs of a member of the household this will be assessed by the local authority when the applicant household applies and provides all of the medical information to the local authority.

Secondly, the recent launch of Housing for Alldemonstrates that this Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society in particular those in greatest need. The Plan commits to increasing new housing supply to an average of at least 33,000 new units per year over the next decade. This will include over 10,000 social homes each year over the next five years, with 9,500 of these being new-builds, and an average of 6,000 affordable homes for purchase or rent.

Finally, under the Plan, the co-ordination of housing provision with the delivery of key health and social care supports for people with a disability and older people is paramount, recognising the need for greater coordination among State service providers for this kind of care. Under the guiding principle of Housing for Alland underpinned by a new National Housing Strategy for Disabled People from 2022 all of the agencies will work to deliver appropriately designed housing for people with a disability, in line with the vision and principles of universal design.