1817. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the introduction of a social housing passport; if the Government will bring in their own legislation on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58383/26]

The concept of a Social Housing Passport, which would enable qualified social housing applicants to access housing supports in other local authority areas, has been considered by my Department in consultation with local authorities.

This scoping exercise identified a range of practical and administrative issues, including those related to the income eligibility differences across local authority areas, maintenance of seniority on housing waiting lists, local connection requirements, the efficient allocation of existing housing stock, and resource implications for local authorities including the absence of a technology to support such an approach. These issues are complex, and require further consideration prior to the introduction of a full social housing passport. My Department will continue to work with the local authority sector to examine how these issues can be dealt with. I will then consider what further actions may be appropriate in light of the options available.

It should be noted, that the Government recognises the need for targeted mobility in exceptional circumstances. A specific Protocol to allow victim/survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to transfer their waiting list time between local authorities has been developed giving effect to the action in Delivering Homes, Building Communities. This new Protocol reflects a focused, proportionate response to the most urgent cases, and will form part of the updated the Department's “Policy and Procedural Guidance for Housing Authorities in Relation to Assisting Victims of Domestic Violence with Emergency and Long-Term Accommodation Needs”, first published in 2017.