Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1432. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of people who do not have habitual residency in Ireland but are currently on the housing waiting list, or are in receipt of HAP, or have been allocated a local authority house. [41253/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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. Policy in respect of residency related eligibility requirements is set out in Department Circular 41 of 2012. Habitual residency is not currently a criteria as part of the assessment process.

In this context, in January 2024, Government approved the priority legal drafting of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 which includes, inter alia, provisions to amend Section 20 of the 2009 Act to provide for legal and habitual residence as an eligibility criterion for social housing support. My Department is engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel during the drafting process. I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government seeking approval to publish the Bill after the summer recess.