There is “no legislative provision to prioritise the allocation of dwellings on the basis of citizenship,” Housing Minister James Browne has confirmed, directly contradicting claims made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on international television.
In a written parliamentary response to an Independent TD, the Fianna Fáil Minister confirmed that individuals granted international protection are eligible for support “on the same basis as an Irish citizen.”
Offaly TD Carol Nolan had submitted a parliamentary question asking whether individuals granted refugee status, subsidiary protection, or permission to remain face the same waiting list rules and prioritisation criteria as Irish citizens.
Browne explained that social housing support is intended for households with long-term permission to reside in Ireland, noting that qualification decisions are handled by local authorities.
“Social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need,” Browne said.
“Therefore, households applying for such support have a long-term permission to reside in the State. It is the responsibility of the local authority to make a decision in each individual case with regard to qualification for social housing support, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, and associated Housing Circulars.”
The Minister outlined that individuals granted international protection qualify for social housing under the State’s legal obligations.
“Persons granted refugee status, subsidiary protection status or permission to remain are eligible to be considered for social housing support, from the date of granting of such status, on the same basis as an Irish citizen,” Browne said.
“The residency requirements governing access to social housing support arise from the State’s constitutional, European Union and international legal obligations. These requirements seek to ensure that social housing supports are available to persons who have a lawful and sufficient right to reside in the State, while complying with Ireland’s obligations under domestic law, EU law and international protection frameworks.”
Browne detailed how local authorities manage allocations through reserved schemes, adding that priority is determined by assessed household need.
“The allocation of dwellings is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation scheme made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations,” he said.
“This legislation requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.”
The Minister confirmed that local authority allocation schemes evaluate circumstances including homelessness and overcrowding.
“While the specific provisions of allocation schemes may vary between local authorities, they generally determine priority on the housing need of the household, and may take account of factors such as whether the household is homeless, residing in overcrowded conditions, any medical or disability-related needs of the household, etc.,” Browne said.
“There is no legislative provision to prioritise the allocation of dwellings on the basis of citizenship, once a household is deemed eligible and in need of social housing support, allocations are generally made on the basis of assessed housing need and in accordance with the allocation scheme adopted by the relevant local authority.”
During an interview with Fox News published on October 1st, 2026, Martin made several assertions regarding housing eligibility that conflict with Browne’s confirmation.
Speaking to Fox News digital investigations reporter Michael Dorgan, the Taoiseach asserted that social housing is restricted to citizens and that Irish citizens receive priority in allocations.
Dorgan had questioned Martin about social housing data obtained by an Independent councillor in Dublin.
Cllr. Gavin Pepper received figures from Dublin City Council showing that 42% of applicants on the local authority’s social housing list were foreign nationals.
When asked about the data, Martin stated that individuals must be citizens to receive social housing, claiming that applicants on the waiting list were citizens who had arrived over the past two decades to work in services such as healthcare.
Tánaiste Simon Harris and Browne have both recently defended the allocation of social housing to non-citizens who meet statutory criteria.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxvAaOEVrVo&t=3s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxvAaOEVrVo&t=3s)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDSSA_2PdMs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDSSA_2PdMs)
According to Central Statistics Office census data, non-Irish citizens accounted for 17% of the population in Dublin, while figures cited by Ciara Kelly on Newstalk’s Claire Byrne Show state they make up 27% of social housing allocations in the capital.