John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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374. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration will be given to adding inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, to the list of conditions eligible for medical priority with regards social housing lists in local authorities across the country given that it is a lifelong illness with no known cure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27080/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for social housing support are assessed by local authorities 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, as amended.

Applicants applying on medical or disability grounds must complete the medical/disability HMD-Form 1 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 HMD-Form 1 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 including determining the most suitable housing solution.

Decisions on the qualification of households for support, the awarding of medical priority, and the allocation of that support, are a matter solely 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.