Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 January 2014
433. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if persons who are having difficulty getting information from other countries regarding property ownership, and if a document which is required when submitting a housing application if required, if he will clarify if they must provide an affidavit declaring that they do not own any property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2464/14]
View answerAs indicated in the reply to Question No. 392 of 24 September 2013, the 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations provide that a household is ineligible for social housing support if a household member owns alternative accommodation that the household could reasonably be expected to use to meet its housing needs, either by occupying it or by selling the accommodation and using the proceeds to secure other suitable accommodation. On foot of this provision, Part 11 of the prescribed social housing application form seeks information on property ownership in the State and abroad and a household is required, under Regulation 11 of the 2011 Regulations, to provide to the housing authority such additional information, including documents and other particulars, as is sought by the authority for the purpose of verifying information relating to its application for social housing support. It is a matter for the local authority to determine what is required in individual cases. My Department would expect that any information sought by a local authority in this regard would be appropriate, having regard to the circumstances of the household concerned.
