Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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304. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if Afghani families who have been allowed to enter the state as part of “Community Support Programme” and who are in receipt of full social welfare benefits can be considered for standard local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53354/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My colleague Minister Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality is responsible for matters relating to the Irish Refugee Protection Programme and coordinating across Government Ireland's international obligations in this area and resettlement and integration objectives.

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. It is the responsibility of the local authority, to make a decision in each individual case with regard to qualification for social housing support, 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 and associated Housing Circulars.

Persons granted international protection status can access State provided supports and services on the same basis as Irish nationals. 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.