To ask the Minister for Communities whether the decision to remove intimidation points in the Housing Selection Scheme by the end of the financial year has led to an increase in applications.

I sought the requested information from the Housing Executive’s Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:

“An Applicant presenting to the Housing Executive as homeless or threatened with homelessness due to alleged intimidation does not make a specific application for Intimidation points. They will present with their circumstances, which will be assessed under the homeless legislation, and, where they apply for social housing, their housing needs will be assessed under the Rules of the Housing Selection Scheme.

The Minister announced the removal of intimidation points from the Housing Selection Scheme on 28th January. As such, it is too soon to establish any specific new trends in homelessness / housing data. It should be noted that applicants presenting to the Housing Executive following the Minister’s announcement who have alleged intimidation, and those with a housing application prior to the Minister’s statement, who present with a change of circumstances precipitated by an incident or set of occurrences that would trigger an investigation for the award of intimidation points, will continue to be robustly investigated in line with existing policies and procedures.

Applicants will continue to be assessed and provided with emergency assistance under the homelessness legislation. Their circumstances will also be assessed under the Rules of the Housing Selection Scheme, including an investigation under Rule 23, prior to its removal. The number of cases awarded 200 points under Rule 23 and the number of cases under investigation under Rule 23 will be closely monitored during these transitional arrangements.”