Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

My Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. Extensions to provide for ground floor bathrooms and bedrooms can also be supported.

This programme also provides capital funding to Local Authorities for Improvement Works in Lieu of local authority housing (IWILs) to enable them to repair, improve or extend privately owned houses that are occupied or will be occupied by approved housing applicants as an alternative to the provision of local authority housing. The scheme may also be used to improve private houses intended for occupation by a person surrendering a local authority house.

The Disabled Persons Grant funding may be considered for the provision of infrastructural and safety related adaptations to create appropriate space for applicants with specific sensory needs. Applications of this nature should be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment of the applicant by specialist healthcare professionals. This should outline who will be responsible for therapy services and/or the provision and upkeep of sensory related equipment. My Department does not fund the provision of sensory equipment.

The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications is the responsibility of Local Authorities.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 255, 256 and 257 together.

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. The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain households, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.

The 2011 Assessment Regulations prescribes, within the Regulations, the housing support application form which must be completed. These Regulations also provide that the local authority may request additional information where it is necessary to assess the applicant’s eligibility and need for housing support. In the case of a household with a member seeking prioritisation on the basis of disability the HMD1 form must be completed by medical professionals to guide the local authority on the nature and extent of the disability concerned, and how these may be alleviated by appropriate housing supports. The purpose of the HMD1 form is to obtain the relevant information in order that the local authority may assess the applicant’s condition in order to award a priority to the applicant, if this is merited.

Therefore the assessment of applications for housing support, including medical priority, is a matter for individual local authorities in accordance with their allocation schemes.

I understand local authorities have internal complaints and appeals systems which may be used to appeal cases. Such arrangements are a matter for the local authorities concerned.