Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the plans that are in place to reduce waiting times for accessible housing for patients with Huntington’s disease considering that it is currently taking many years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22436/22]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Social housing allocation policies, including waiting lists, are a matter for local authorities. All 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.  It is the local authority which assesses housing applicants, taking into account factors such as the condition and affordability of existing accommodation, medical and compassionate grounds, etc. The authority then prioritises the needs of approved applicants in accordance with its allocation scheme.

Since 2011, housing for disabled people has been addressed in a dedicated joint Strategy between my Department and the Department of Health. A new joint National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 was launched on 14 January 2022.

The new Strategy sets out the vision for the cooperation and collaboration of Government Departments, state agencies and others in delivering housing and the related supports for disabled people over the next five years. This new Strategy will operate within the framework of Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland which is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units, is available to everyone in Irish society, including those with disabilities and older people. Preparation of an Implementation Plan for the Strategy is underway with a target for completion by the second quarter of 2022.

Further information on the Strategy can be found on the following link www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1c6c5-new-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027-launched.