Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 2

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

140 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if it is the policy of some local authorities to refuse admission to housing lists or consideration for re-housing to persons or families already in private accommodation even though such persons have no possibility of providing a house for themselves and most of whom are in receipt of rent assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19349/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1988, requires local authorities to include in their assessments of local authority housing needs the needs of persons who are, in the opinion of the housing authority, not reasonably able to meet the cost of their accommodation which they are occupying or to obtain suitable alternative accommodation. Some 29% of households assessed as in need of local authority housing in March 1999 were in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.