In April, CLM was invited to speak at the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government, and heritage. In our opening statement, we expressed significant concerns regarding the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, particularly the introduction of ‘right to reside’ and ‘habitual residence’ conditions for social housing supports.

We cautioned that the proposed changes would disproportionately impact marginalised communities and lead to increased homelessness. We highlighted potential EU law violations, the absence of an adequate appeals mechanism, and the harshness of applying residency criteria to all household members. We urged the Committee to engage in comprehensive consultation with stakeholders before advancing these proposals.