Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the joint report of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Economic and Social Research Institute on adequate housing; his views on the disadvantages experienced by young people, migrants, persons with disabilities and Travellers as outlined in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48677/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to ensure that housing policy must address the needs of all those who experience social exclusion in our society.  To this end, my Department is working to put in place the structures at local and national level to underpin this policy.

The Government continues to support the Traveller and Roma Strategy, and in that context, in accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding and we are working consistently to improve these in collaboration with all stakeholders.  

We also continue to support the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2021 which provides for the housing of people with disabilities in the community and moving from congregated settings. Over the period of the Strategy structures have been put in place at national and local level to ensure that local authorities plan and set targets for the housing of people with disabilities.  A review of the current Strategy is underway and a new Strategy will be put in place from January 2022.

To provide for the specific housing needs of younger persons leaving the care system my Department provides funding to Approved Housing Bodies for the provision of housing for this group. In the case of migrants who are non-EU citizens their eligibility for social housing is determined by their legal status with regard to residence in Ireland. In the case of programme refugees these are accommodated by local authorities under the International Refugee Protection Programme and asylum seekers are accommodated under the Direct Provision System which will be replaced by a new accommodation system by 2024.

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. All eligible households are entitled to access all of the housing support mechanisms on an equal basis with all other citizens and local authorities work to ensure that all persons are treated with dignity and consideration regardless of age or ethnicity.

To ensure maximum delivery of homes for those who need them, particularly marginalised groups, I and my Department, have ongoing and extensive engagement with all local authorities across all delivery streams. We meet regularly with local authorities to progress social housing and I know that they are deeply committed to ensuring that such housing is provided to all eligible applicants as speedily as possible and that the support needs of all applicants are appropriately assessed. In addition to these meetings, targeted sessions have been held between my Department and local authority senior management to specifically discuss all aspects of social housing delivery.