Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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64. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason inter-county social housing transfers are no longer allowed in general or even under special circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37028/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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A household may apply for social housing support to one local authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection. However, the local authority may agree, at its discretion, to assess the household for support without the need to meet the normally resides or local connection criteria.

Some local authorities have provisions in their allocation schemes for inter authority/mutual transfers for sitting tenants whereby the authority is prepared to accommodate applications provided certain criteria are met. Such arrangements are entirely a matter for the local authority concerned.

Requests for transfers for social housing tenants are considered solely by the relevant local authority concerned in accordance with that authority’s allocation scheme, which is made by the elected members under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and in compliance with Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing applicants, taking into account factors such as the condition and suitability existing accommodation, medical and compassionate grounds, etc. The authority then prioritises the needs of approved applicants in accordance with its allocation scheme. Ultimately, it is a matter for the local authority to decide the conditions to be met in relation to transfer applications.