This release is categorised as a CSO Frontier Series Output. Particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in this release as it may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete, for example, new administrative data sources.
This chapter looks at the engagement of people experiencing long-lasting conditions or difficulties with housing supports. One of the main data sources used is the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme which is a form of social housing support provided by all local authorities. HAP is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need, including long-term rent supplement recipients. The other two data sources used are rent supplement from the Department of Social Protection (DSP), and social housing waiting lists, which are maintained by the local authorities.
Households where the primary person was experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent accounted for 25% of the 8,875 households receiving Rent Supplement in 2023. Of this 25% (2,214 households), 53% of these responded having 'difficulty working at a job or business or attending school or college', while 6% responded 'deafness or hearing impairment'.
In this section, the term adult refers to the primary and joint persons (for example, spouse/partner) in a household.
Within 2024, of the 51,799 households on the HAP scheme after linking to Census 2022 data, 7,981 (15%) of those households contained at least one adult experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent.
‘Difficulty working at a job or business or attending school or college’ was the largest category and accounted for 45% of adults experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent on the HAP scheme, while 'deafness or hearing impairment' was the smallest at 6%.
Of all those households on the HAP scheme throughout 2024 which include at least one adult experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent, 30% were single while 16% were a single adult with one child. The proportions were different for all households which included persons experiencing and not experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty on the HAP scheme, where 19% were single and 24% were a single adult with one child.
Just over two in five (42%) households on the HAP scheme in 2024, which include at least one adult experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent, were receiving long-term disability supports, compared with 14% of all households on the HAP scheme. For households on the HAP scheme in 2024, which include at least one adult experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to any extent, 28% of those were receiving long-term disability supports.
The tables below relate to the housing waiting list. All statistics are compiled based on 'Net Need' housing waiting list. Net lists include households qualified for social housing support across the country but excludes those who have been provided with some social housing support and are waiting for a transfer. See Background Notes.
Almost one quarter (24%) of households on the housing list in 2022, which include at least one person experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent, had ‘disability requirement’ as their basis of need. The basis of need indicates the primary reason for an applicant being included on the housing list (see Background Notes).
About two in three households (68%) on the housing list in 2022, which include at least one person experiencing a long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent, were classed as having a general need, i.e. they had no specific accommodation requirements. Of all the households on the housing list, which include at least one person experiencing a long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent, 20% were classed as having a housing need because of enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment.
The classification of need is included in the housing list data and indicates if the applicant has specific accommodation requirements.
Of the households on the housing list in 2022 which include at least one person experiencing a long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent, over one in four (27%) were living with their parents. One in five (21%) were in private rented accommodation (without rent supplement).
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