Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
500. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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]
View answerThe 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.
