Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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179. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 531 of 19 January 2022, and 192 of 4 May 2022, the current status of the social housing passport reforms; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45436/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority waiting list to another.

An initial scoping exercise was carried out which identified a range of practical and administrative issues, including those related to the maintenance of seniority on housing waiting lists, local connection requirements, the efficient allocation of existing housing stock, and resource implications for local authorities. Further work is required to assess the practical application of such a scheme in the context of other reform package measures.

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.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for a breakdown of the €8 million additional funding for housing adaptation grants in Budget 2024, in terms of the disability and older persons' grants. [45488/23]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide more detail on the funding announced as part of Budget 2024, for pilot housing schemes around older people and people with disabilities. [45489/23]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline how much funding for the capital assistance scheme will be allocated in Budget 2024. [45490/23]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how much funding has been allocated for the disabled persons grant and improvement works in lieu schemes in Budget 2024. [45491/23]

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Limerick City and County Council for the provision of the housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45495/23]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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185. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to ensure that social housing tenants will not be subject to higher rents because of social welfare rate increases in Budget 2024. [45510/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The making or amending of differential rent schemes are matters for individual local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department. Accordingly, rent schemes are generally based on a percentage of household income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.

Local authority rent schemes also contain hardship clauses which can be used to support households experiencing financial difficulties. In such cases, for example, local authorities may accept a lesser sum from a tenant for a specified period where payment of rent would give rise to hardship for the household.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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186. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether funding was provided in Budget 2024 to increase the income thresholds for housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability. [45519/23]