1835. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 4332. the number of people that were removed from the Housing lists of Cork City Council and Cork County Council in each of the past four years, broken down by the number of years they had accrued before being removed. [58594/26]

Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).

The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2025, is available on my Department's website, along with all summaries since 2011 at www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-assessments/.

Complete data on the number of households who have been removed for 2022 and 2023 is not available. However, data has been provided by local authorities to the Housing Agency for 2024 and 2025. This data shows that 3,524 applications were closed in Cork City and 988 applications were closed in Cork County between the SSHA 2023 and 2024 count dates. 2,307 applications were closed in Cork City and 870 applications were closed in Cork County between the SSHA 2024 and 2025 count dates.

The main reason why applications were closed was because households secured and allocation to local authority or approved housing body housing, HAP or RAS. This accounts for a approximately a third of all closed applications for both SSHA periods. Other reasons for removal were, change in household circumstances, no longer qualifying and failure to engage with the local authority following a number of attempts. My Department is continuing to work with the Housing Agency and local authorities refine and improve the data collected on applications closed.

As part of the SSHA process, all local authorities write to relevant households informing them of the assessment process and seeking updated information where necessary. Where a number of attempts to contact a household fail to elicit a response, authorities are advised that it is not unreasonable to then close the household’s application. However, local authorities are also advised that should the household subsequently respond with the information required within a reasonable time, the application could be re-activated. My Department does not have data as to how many were subsequently reinstated due to contact with the local authority after the date of the SSHA count.

Local authorities may review files throughout the year, as opposed to just the SSHA period. The SSHA is a point in time snapshot of the demand for social housing support in each local authority area and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the housing waiting lists.

In relation to the number of years accrued of those removed from housing lists, the information requested is not held by my Department. The oversight and practical management of housing waiting and transfer lists is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, as amended and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations.