2026-01-22

147. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has engaged in any consultation processes with approved housing bodies and local authorities in advance of legislation removing blanket pet bans. [4416/26]

I thank the Deputy for raising what is an important question and can often have a profound effect on families, namely, the blanket ban that is often imposed on having pets. It was an important policy to get into our housing plan. For many people, especially those who live on their own but for all families, pets provide comfort and connection and can be an enormous source of emotional support and companionship. Pets are often seen as part of the family. The new national housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, commits to reviewing the code of practice for the approved housing body allocation process, which is an agreed set of arrangements between local authorities and the AHB sector. The code seeks to establish a collaborative and efficient approach to the social housing nomination and allocations process. It is timely that the code be reviewed to ensure, in the first instance, that the nomination and allocation processes are working to avoid unnecessary vacancy periods in social housing. In order to reinforce a collaborative approach, a working group comprising my Department, the local authorities, the AHB sector and the Housing Agency has been established to carry out a review of the code. I will be ensuring the review of this code is carried out as quickly as possible. Effectively, I want to repeal the ban. People should not be prohibited from being able to bring their pet with them when they move into any house, in my view, but at least any house we have control over, which are social and affordable homes.

I agree with the Minister's proposal to repeal the ban. That is only sensible and sane. This has caused unquantifiable distress to families who have been in touch with me. I will give one example of one family. They were on a social housing list and got approval. They were very excited, but only a couple of months earlier they had generously taken in their neighbour's dog when their neighbour had passed and they suddenly realised they did not know what were they going to do with this dog. The family were very distressed at the thought that they might have to give up their pet. This is just one example of the many families who have been in touch with me and that is why we are keen to get some indication as to when this will be legislated for. We understand that legislation is very complicated and there are various moving parts around this, but it may be useful if guidelines were issued initially just to show the direction of travel. That would reassure the people out there who are on these lists and are hoping to get housing.

I thank the Deputy. I would hope that my very clear statements would act as guidelines for local authorities and AHBs. We fund them. People should not be precluded from living with pets. A code will be required to ensure that a very tiny number of people cannot try to abuse the situation. We have to be conscious that people live next door to each other and it is about pets living with them. Again, the definition of a pet is very clearly set out in law and, therefore, I expect we will move quickly on this. I will be ensuring we move quickly so that people can keep their pets. Our position has been made loud and clear to local authorities and AHBs and I would expect them to act in anticipation of the change in rules.

I thank the Minister for that reassurance. My view is that the existing wear and tear and antisocial elements of contracts would cover any of the situations that could arise with regard to pets and, therefore, I think that is unnecessary. I have been in touch with a number of different AHBs and there is a variety of policies out there already, which is interesting in itself. Some do not have any restrictions on pets, which is very good to know. Others have restrictions on dogs but not on cats. Others have restrictions except for guide dogs and service animals. Therefore, there is quite a range. This is where a very simple direction from the Minister's Department to the AHBs and local authorities publicising that would provide reassurance and comfort to families. The Minister also mentioned individuals earlier. I was delighted to see the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, also here earlier. Pets are incredibly important, particularly for older people who are seeking housing, who are a significant group of those who are on these lists. I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies Lawless, O'Donnell and Cummins, for all their work in this area.

I recognise Deputy O'Connell's concern in this area and her compassion for families who want to keep their pets. Their pets are now part of the family and they give some much comfort and support to people. Whether that is older people or children and their families, pets are very much part of it. That is the reason we were so anxious to ensure there was a very clear line of direction included in the housing plan sending out that message to AHBs and local authorities and putting it now into a code of practice. I do not think legislation will be needed. If it is needed, we will do it with legislation, but through codes of practice and service level agreements with local authorities and AHBs, we can effect this more quickly. I have been saying this to our local authorities and AHBs, as our officials have been, and therefore I would expect them to act in anticipation of this change.