Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
220. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legislation under which an EU/EEA national, habitually resident in Ireland for five years, is required to provide documentary evidence of having worked for 52 weeks in the State and have a minimum of 52 weeks PRSI contributions and/or show evidence of current employment where they pay PRSI contributions to be eligible to apply for social housing support. [9826/24]
View answerApplications for social housing support are assessed by local authorities in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
As social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need it is expected that households applying for such support have a long-term right to reside in the State. Guidance has been issued to local authorities to determine whether a non-national applicant has a long-term right to reside in the State and, thus, may be considered for social housing support where his or her household has a housing need and meets all of the required criteria. My Department also continues to provide guidance and updates as needed on related policy matters in accordance with National and EU law.
In this context, the Government has recently approved the drafting of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 which includes provisions to introduce a requirement for legal and habitual residence as an eligibility criterion for social housing support. I recently wrote to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, enclosing the general scheme and advising that my Department is happy to assist the Committee in the course of its deliberations as part of the pre-legislate scrutiny process.
