Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2010
238 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if an Irish citizen living abroad who wants to come home to live here can make an application for housing here even though they are currently residing in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10673/10]
View answerA person residing in the United Kingdom who wishes to return to Ireland is not precluded from applying for social housing support in Ireland. The acceptance or non-acceptance of housing applicants from outside the functional area of a local authority is a matter solely for the authority concerned. Section 9(5) of the Housing Act 1988 provides that ‘a housing authority may, to such extent (if any) as the authority consider appropriate, include in an assessment . . . need arising from the requirements of persons who are residing outside the functional area of the authority'.
