Paul Murphy
Question:292. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria used by the housing authorities to assess medical priority applications for housing. [15065/23]
View answerTuesday, 28 March 2023
Questions (292)
Written answers
Applications for social housing support are assessed by local authorities 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. Decisions on the qualification of households for support, the awarding of medical priority, the most appropriate form of support and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the respective local authorities.
An applicant with a medical condition may request a priority based on that medical condition. Applicants applying on medical or disability grounds must complete the medical/ disability HMD-Form 1 specifying the nature of the medical condition or disability and, if applicable, an occupational therapist's report in respect of any specific accommodation requirements.
Regulation 23 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 sets out the aspects of a household's current accommodation to which the authority will have regard when determining a household's need for social housing support, which include the extent to which it meets any accommodation requirement arising from the enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment of a household member.