Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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258. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the criteria a single father who co-parents his children must meet in order for his social housing application to include himself and his children qualify for a suitably sized local authority property. [58894/21]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if it is an essential requirement that the single parent applicant must be in receipt of children’s allowance in order for dependent children to be included on a social housing application. [58895/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together.

Applications for social housing support are assessed by local authorities, 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).

The 2009 Act defines a household as a person living alone, or two or more persons, who in the opinion of the local authority concerned, have a reasonable requirement to live together. Households meeting the eligibility and need criteria, qualify for the suite of social housing supports, including HAP, and are placed on the housing list to be considered for the allocation of suitable tenancies in accordance with the relevant local authority’s allocation scheme.

The receipt of children's allowance is not an assessment criterion prescribed by the 2009 Act or the 2011 Regulations. The oversight and practical management of housing lists, including decisions on eligibility and the type of social housing support allocated or provided to households, is a matter solely for local authorities in accordance with the Act and Regulations.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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260. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in which there is a discrepancy in the funding awarded under the private housing grants scheme and the funding received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58896/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The detailed administration of the scheme is the responsibility of local authorities and any queries should be directed to the relevant local authority in the first instance.

I understand that the local authority in question facilitated an appeal on the application which was subsequently unsuccessful. There is a right of recourse to the Ombudsman, and I understand that the individual in question has been made aware of this option.