Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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315. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will request local authorities not to remove a person who has entered addiction rehabilitation from the social housing waiting list. [49642/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The day-to-day operation of the social housing system, including the oversight and practical management of the lists of qualified households awaiting accommodation, is a matter solely for each local authority.

If a household on the waiting list experiences a change in the details given on their application form, such as entry into addiction rehabilitation, they should immediately notify their local authority so their records can be updated. Local authorities are also required, when directed by the Minister, to undertake a statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) to count the number of households on the waiting list for social housing supports whose need has not yet been met.

As part of this assessment, all local authorities write to relevant households informing them of the assessment process and seeking updated information where necessary. Where a number of attempts to contact a household fail to elicit a response, authorities are advised that it is not unreasonable to then close the household’s application. However, local authorities are also advised that should the household subsequently respond with the information required within a reasonable time, the application could be re-activated.

It is the responsibility of the local authority, while taking a compassionate approach, to make a decision in each individual case.