Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 April 2025
273. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's position on Dublin City Council's proposal to restrict care leavers' access to social housing, particularly excluding those coming from foster care. [18294/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra274. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to issue national guidelines to ensure that care leavers across all local authorities are adequately supported in accessing social housing. [18295/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra275. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to support care leavers who are not eligible for housing priority under Dublin City Council's new criteria, particularly those leaving foster care, to prevent them from becoming homeless. [18296/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra277. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of Dublin City Council’s recent decision to restrict priority social housing status to care leavers coming solely from residential care, thereby excluding those transitioning from foster care; the measures his Department is taking to ensure that all vulnerable young people exiting State care, regardless of their care background, receive equitable access to social housing supports to prevent homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18303/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 273, 274, 275 and 277 together.
The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain categories of households, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation scheme made under Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.
This legislation requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme which specifies, among other things, the manner of and the order of priority for the allocation of dwellings to households on the housing and transfer lists. An allocation scheme may also contain provisions for exceptional or emergency cases, allowing immediate housing outside of normal waiting list priorities, should circumstances warrant it. Decisions on the allocation of social housing support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.
A national Youth Homelessness Strategy was published in November 2022 and aims to help young people aged 18 - 24 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The Strategy recognises that there are certain cohorts of young people who are particularly at risk of becoming homeless and are disproportionately represented in the young homeless population. Those leaving State care are one of six vulnerable cohorts identified. Accordingly, Action 7 within the Strategy provides for a review and update of Housing Circular 46/2014 on the Protocol on Young People Leaving State Care. The Department is working closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tulsa to revise this Protocol. A consultation with a range of key stakeholders is underway and it is anticipated that the updated Circular and Protocol will issue by end of Q2 2025. The protocol will set out the roles of Tusla and local authorities and outline the practical steps involved in assessing a young person leaving State care and managing that person's accommodation and support needs.
