Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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801. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the legal, statutory or circular basis for the application of the local connection condition to the provision of homeless emergency accommodation. [29574/25]

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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842. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware that, when assessing people for homelessness and access to emergency accommodation, local authorities are applying a local connection protocol (details supplied) which has no basis in law; if he will direct the County and City Management Association to withdraw this protocol, given the serious legal and ethical concerns it raises, particularly its potential to unlawfully restrict access to emergency accommodation for individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30342/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 801 and 842 together.

My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.

Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. Decisions on the assessment of households for homeless services, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter for the local authority concerned.

Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household.

Any household assessed as homeless may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation without the requirement to undergo a social housing assessment, allowing local authorities the flexibility that is essential to respond quickly and effectively to the various needs of cases that may arise.

Normally, emergency accommodation is provided by the relevant local authority where an applicant has a local connection, or normally resides, in order to meet an individual’s long-term housing need. However, local authorities have discretion to provide accommodation and related homeless services to a household who has been assessed as homeless and who resides outside the local authority functional area.

Operational issues in the day to day delivery of services, including provision of emergency accommodation provided through a local authority, are a matter for the relevant local authority. The Minister is prevented from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the provision of housing support in relation to any individual.