My Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality. The Strategy and Implementation Plan may be accessed at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/60d76-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/
The Implementation Plan sets out the actions to achieve the vision of the joint Strategy for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people to 2027, operating under the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue and introduces a number of key measures to address homelessness. Prevention of homelessness in the first instance is an absolute priority. There are many preventions initiatives already underway in my own Department and across Government. This includes the provision of social and affordable housing, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and homeless HAP, and strong tenancy protection legislation. My Department is committed to developing a national Homelessness Prevention Framework within which homelessness can be prevented in a structured and planned way with tailored prevention measures for each potential at risk cohort. This Framework will be in place in 2026.
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. The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain households, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of this Act and associated Regulations.
My Department brought forward the Social Housing Assessment (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 116 of 2021) which adopted the HMD-Form 1. The form is for anyone applying for social housing or a social housing transfer due to a disability or medical grounds. It provides for a variety and wider range of healthcare professionals to complete the form than previous iterations. The purpose of the HMD-Form 1, including the requirement for two healthcare professionals, is to obtain sufficient information to allow the local authority to assess the nature of the applicant’s circumstances and determine the most suitable housing solution for them.
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. The Minister is precluded by housing legislation from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the provision of social housing support regarding any individual application. The allocation of social housing support is a matter solely for local authorities in accordance with their allocation scheme made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.
Furthermore, the provision of homeless accommodation and related services is a statutory function of local authorities, and the Minister has no role in the matter and no function in relation to individual homeless cases. Specifically, under Section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 local authorities are responsible for the provision of housing supports to households for the purposes of meeting their accommodation needs, including homeless accommodation and related services provided to homeless persons under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.
My Department, in conjunction with local authorities and AHBs, continues to work and engage with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE within the framework of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People. This is to ensure the coordinated delivery of independent living accommodation to meet the needs of disabled people, aligned in conjunction with the delivery of the disability services supports for independent living for disabled people which is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE.
