COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 09, 2013

QUESTION NO.8

QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

To ask the Manager for a report on the issue of housing related applications for medical priority involving the HSE Medical Officer including the following information (with the information expressed as a global figure for SDCC and with a breakdown for each LEA):

- the number of applications for medical priority per year from 2010 to 2013

- the number of applications for medical priority rejected by the medical officer per year from 2010 to 2013

- the number of rejected applications that relate to rare medical conditions & behavioural syndromes 

- the number of rejected applications eventually granted on review/appeal per year from 2010 to 2013?

REPLY:

The Medical Unit was set up in 2011 following the restriction of capital funding from Government for the construction of new social housing, including housing for those awaiting specially adapted housing.  The purpose of the unit was to examine existing housing stock that become vacant as to it's suitability for those awaiting specific housing. The remit of the Unit was broadened to examine all applications for housing on medical grounds with a view to meeting their needs from vacant housing.

 It is a requirement under the Social Housing Regulations 2011 that the medical documentation submitted in respect of a request for housing on medical grounds must clearly outline how the provision of social housing, having regard to the applicant's current housing accommodation, will improve/alleviate the applicants medical needs.  When such documentation is received it is forwarded to the Councils medial referee who determines if medial priority is awarded.  The medical referee is a HSE doctor who is nominated to us by that body.

 Currently 130 applicants are awaiting specific accommodation (56 require wheelchair liveable accommodation) plus 43 applicants awaiting standard accommodation on medical grounds.  Since the establishment of the unit 115 housing applicants/transfers have been accommodated in specific accommodation.

 The Council's Medical Referee reviewed 170 medical applications to date in 2013. The following show statistics for 2012 & 2013, they are not available for 2011.

Applications forwarded to Medical Referee

 

 

 

 

2011

2012

2013

Applications for housing on medical grounds (incl. standard housing on medical grounds

n/a

144

170

Approved

75

57

85

Refused

n/a

80

83

Additional Information sought

n/a

7

2

Granted on Review 2012/2013

n/a

5

Statistics of individual medical conditions/disabilities are not recorded, nor is the LEA as figures include housing applicants who may not currently reside in the County, however, the following is the type of accommodation awarded medical priority:

SUMMARY OF DECISIONS on Disability/Medical Grounds  2013  
Standard 41
Ground Floor 44
Total 85

In addition to the 85 awards for priority the Doctor has indicated that 21 of these units will require their own bedroom accommodation for the applicant and 8 will require garden space while 1 of them units will need to include a carer's room