Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
380 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the housing assistance his Department can provide to persons (details supplied) in England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13326/04]
View answer
Under the amendment made to the terms of my Department's voluntary housing capital assistance scheme in November 2001, up to 25% of accommodation in new projects provided throughout the country by individual voluntary housing bodies with funding under the scheme may be allocated to elderly returning emigrants who satisfy eligibility criteria in respect of their current circumstances and are included in the Safe Home waiting list.
The Safe Home organisation carries out a co-ordinating role liaising with relevant individual voluntary housing bodies throughout the country regarding accommodation for eligible elderly emigrants who are included in their waiting list. Safe Home assesses applications from elderly emigrants for accommodation under the scheme and compiles a list of eligible applicants. It liases with relevant voluntary bodies throughout the country and with local authorities in respect of accommodation for eligible elderly emigrants on its waiting list and carries out a co-ordinating role generally in relation to the scheme. Allocation of accommodation under the amended scheme is not contingent on persons being included or accepted for inclusion in the housing authority assessment of housing need. Instead, specified conditions regarding their current circumstances and inclusion in the Safe Home waiting list are relevant.
I understand from inquiries made with the Safe Home organisation that the persons to whom this question refers applied to it for accommodation in January 2001. Safe Home has also advised that the applicants will be considered for any suitable accommodation becoming available to them for allocation to elderly returning emigrants, in, County Meath.
381 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the housing assistance his Department can provide to persons who emigrated from Ireland in the 1950’s to the UK who have never owned their own home abroad and who wish to retire here as returned emigrants; if such persons should apply to their local authority from their UK address or return home and live with relatives here before applying to the local authority; if it is necessary for such persons to be domiciled here for a period of time before applying to the local authority housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13327/04]
View answer
The letting of local authority housing is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with its scheme of letting priorities, which is prepared and adopted at local level. It is understood that local authorities have generally accepted applications for housing from applicants who have taken up residence in Ireland, usually within the functional area of the local authority from whom they intend seeking accommodation, and who make a formal application to that authority for housing. However, under an amendment made to the terms of my Department's voluntary housing capital assistance scheme in November 2001, up to 25% of accommodation in new projects provided throughout the country by individual voluntary housing bodies with funding under the scheme may be allocated to elderly returning emigrants who satisfy eligibility criteria in respect of their current circumstances and are included in the Safe Home waiting list.
Safe Home carries out a co-ordinating role liaising with relevant individual voluntary housing bodies throughout the country regarding accommodation for eligible elderly emigrants who are included in their waiting list. Elderly emigrants wishing to apply for accommodation may apply and be assessed for housing provided under the scheme without the requirement of having first returned to this country.
