Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
152. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a social housing passport can be considered; to outline the options for a person who has over 10 years on one local authority list but has settled into the community of a different local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22784/26]
View answerThe concept of a 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, further work in this area is not being considered at the present time.
It should be noted however, there is already a degree of flexibility regarding housing waiting lists. The four Dublin local authorities have arrangements allowing social housing applicants apply for housing in up to two of the other Dublin authorities simultaneously. Similar arrangements apply in the two Cork and two Galway local authorities. Households may also move and relocate between housing authority areas under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme where the household income is within the relevant income limits.
