Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 March 2026
1019. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the implementation of a nationwide CBL system; the timeline for roll out of the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18805/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraChoice-Based Letting (CBL) is a method that can be used by local authorities to allocate social housing, whereby available social housing stock is let by being openly advertised, allowing qualified applicants to ‘bid’ for or ‘register an interest’ in available homes. Applicants respond to available properties advertised by local authorities, rather than waiting for an authority to offer them a dwelling. This approach offers more choice, transparency and involvement for applicant households in selecting a new home, thereby reducing the likelihood of a refusal, improving re-let times and helping to build sustainable tenancies and stable communities.
In 2024, 19 local authorities used CBL to allocate. My Department continues to work with local authorities to support their development of a Choice Based Letting model as part of suite of actions focused on social housing allocations and standardising operating arrangements and the associated processes at local authority and AHB level identified in the national housing plan "Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 - 2030".
My Department also continues to support its agency, the LGMA on the development of the National Housing ICT Solution. In November 2025, the government launched the Digital Public Services Plan 2030 which demonstrated the commitment by the LGMA to lead on the digitalisation of social housing processes to 2030. The plan outlines the roadmap to deliver seamless, inclusive and user-centred social housing services and will give rise to the development of technological capabilities that will support online social housing applications and the digitalisation of wider social housing processes such the Summary of Social Housing Assessment (SSHA) and Choice-Based Letting. My Department will continue to support the LGMA to deliver enhanced services across the entire social housing process.
