Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 October 2012
147. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the entitlement of nationals of EU members states that are resident in Ireland to local authority housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47133/12]
View answerIn December 2011 my Department issued guidance by way of circular letter (67/2011), to housing authorities regarding access to social housing support for non-Irish nationals. The circular provided that EEA nationals may be considered for assessment for social housing support from housing authorities if:
1) they are in employment/self-employed in the State; or
2) where they are not currently working/employed it is because
- they are temporarily unable to work because of illness/accident;
- they are recorded as involuntarily unemployed after having been employed for longer than a year, and they are registered as a job-seeker with Department of Social Protection and FÁS. (This is guided by the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) (No. 2) Regulations 2006 which give effect in Irish law to the Directive on the rights of citizens of the European Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States).
My Department is currently reviewing the above-mentioned circular and intends to issue revised guidance to housing authorities in the near future.
