Local Authority Housing Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2012

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Questions (59)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

59. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering any legislative changes that would permit citizens who occupy local authority housing to transfer between local authorities; if he is considering any legislative changes that would permit citizens who are on a housing waiting list to transfer to another local authority housing waiting list without generally affecting their relative position on the waiting list; if he will outline any potential changes he is considering to housing function in view of the package of reforms that he intends to make for local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46188/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

In the context of the Housing Bill currently being formulated in my Department, I will consider whether there is a need for legislation in relation to a household receiving social housing support from one housing authority that wishes to transfer to another housing authority area, a practice currently operated on an informal basis by agreement between housing authorities. Under the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, a qualified household entered on the waiting list of one housing authority on the basis of residency or local connection may be entered simultaneously on the waiting list of up to 2 other authorities in the same county . However, it is not possible for a household to apply to more than one housing authority for social housing support, or for a household on the waiting list of one housing authority to transfer its application to another authority and to carry forward to the new waiting list the time spent on the previous list. I have no proposals to change the position in this regard. As part of the programme of local government reform announced last week , I will examine the reserved functions of housing authorities to identify those appropriate for discharge at the new municipal district level and also the scope for greater discretion or responsibility at local level in relation to housing functions generally.