Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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500. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of the fact that at present there is no dedicated pathway for migrants with disabilities within Ireland’s housing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15855/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The overarching aim of social housing support is to ensure that households who do not have sufficient resources to provide accommodation themselves to meet their needs are provided with adequate housing.

It is open to anyone to apply for social housing support, applications for which 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. As social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need it is expected that households applying for such support have a long-term right to reside in the State.

Migrants with disabilities who have met the eligibility and need criteria outlined above 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 authority’s allocation scheme.

Ultimately, decisions on the qualification of households for social housing support, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.

Where a household requests a priority based on the medical or disability needs, the authority will request the completion of the HMD1 form specifying the nature of the medical condition or disability and, if applicable, an occupational therapist's report in respect of any specific accommodation requirements. The purpose of the HMD1 form is to obtain sufficient information to allow the local authority to assess the nature of the applicant’s condition in order to award a priority to the applicant if that is merited. Decisions on the awarding of medical priority are a matter solely for the respective local authorities.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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501. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of the fact that at present there is no dedicated pathway for migrants with disabilities social support systems; if he will instruct his Department to create the necessary steps to ensure people with disabilities are given the support they need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14979/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a number of income supports for people with a disability who are of working age. These include Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension. Both Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are means tested social assistance schemes, while Invalidity Pension is a social insurance based scheme. These are part of the suite of working age payments. This Department does not have responsibility for social support systems.

Eligibility for the Department’s income support schemes is not dependent on the type or category of illness or disability. Rather, entitlement to these supports is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.

Every application for the Department's schemes is individually assessed, in line with the provisions specified in the relevant social welfare legislation. Assessment is based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant and taking into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor. In addition, persons must be habitually resident in Ireland to qualify for Disability Allowance. People who have come from Ukraine and who are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive will satisfy the Habitual Residence condition.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.