Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
615. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that a package of social housing reforms, including a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority waiting list to another which were in the Programme for Government for the 33rd Dáil and has not been included for the Programme for Government for the 34th Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17109/26]
View answerThe concept of a social housing passport, intended to facilitate eligible social housing applicants to access social housing in any local authority of their preference has been considered by my Department in consultation with local authorities.
An initial scoping exercise was carried out by my Department which identified a range of practical and administrative issues, including those related to the income eligibility differences across local authority areas, maintenance of seniority on housing waiting lists, local connection requirements, the efficient allocation of existing housing stock, and resource implications for local authorities including the absence of a technology to support such an approach. Due to the complexity of the range of issues identified and the difficulties inherent in the practical application of such a scheme for all social housing applicants, further work in this specific area is not being considered at the present time.
However, and as outlined in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, a protocol to allow households fleeing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to transfer time spent on a social housing waiting list to another local authority will be established and implemented in H1 2026. My Department is engaging with local authorities to develop this protocol and ensure that it is workable, and meets the needs of those who can benefit from it.
In relation to other commitments made in the Programme for Government for the 33rd Dáil, the Tenant (Incremental Purchase) Scheme was reviewed and changes have been implemented and the review of the differential rent system has carried forward into the national housing plan. Finally, in relation to a website to allow for a nationwide choice-based letting system, my Department continues to work with the LGMA on the local authority national housing ICT project which will include progressing this work.
