COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2026

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor L. de Courcy

To ask the Chief Executive what procedures are in place for vetting adult IPAS applicants who have been granted leave to stay and are applying to SDCC for social housing but come from countries where Gardai do not have access to police databases and where Police Clearance Certificates are not readily available?

REPLY:

The assessment of applications for social housing support is governed by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, and subsequent amending regulations.

To qualify for social housing support, applicants must be at least 18 years of age, satisfy residency requirements, and have a legal right to reside in the State. Applicants must also demonstrate a housing need and meet the eligibility criteria set out in the legislation.

Applicants who have been granted permission to remain in the State, including those who previously resided in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation, are assessed under the same legislative framework and eligibility criteria as all other applicants for social housing support.

In relation to anti-social behaviour checks, all applicants are assessed in accordance with Section 15 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 and our Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy, Policies and Procedures. Where an applicant is being considered for the allocation of a social housing tenancy, a formal request is made to An Garda Síochána for information relating to anti-social behaviour in respect of household members aged 18 years and over.

To be considered eligible for the allocation of a social housing property, applicants must satisfy the requirements of our Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy and maintain a clear record for the two-year period immediately preceding the acceptance of a housing offer. This requirement applies equally to all applicants irrespective of their country of origin.