Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017

Tuesday, 31 January 2017

Ceisteanna (318)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

318. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who are on the social housing waiting list with Galway City Council for some time (details supplied) are now being required to cancel their application with Galway City Council and reapply to Galway County Council, thereby losing their place on the social housing waiting list with Galway City Council in respect of their Galway city and Galway county areas of preferences; his plans to change these regulations to avoid this situation and the duplication of work it is causing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4529/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. A household may apply for support to one housing authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection, or the authority that agrees, at its discretion, to assess the household for support. In determining whether a household has a local connection with its area, a housing authority must have regard to whether a household member: - lived in the area for a continuous five- year period at any time in the past,

- is employed in the area or within 15 km of the area,

- is in full-time education, or attending specialist medical care in the area, or

- has a relative (defined in the Regulations) living in the area for two years or longer.

A household meeting either the residence or local connection condition may specify up to three areas of choice for receipt of support in the areas of all housing authorities in the county and city concerned and, if qualified, will be entered on the housing waiting list of each of those housing authorities. Thus, a household that applies to Galway City Council could, if qualified for support, be also entered on the waiting list of Galway County Council without having to make a separate application to the latter.

I am not aware of households qualified with Galway City Council for social housing support, which includes the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, having to reapply to Galway County Council to avail of the scheme. However, if the Deputy wishes to furnish further details on the matter, I will arrange for my Department to follow up on the matter.

Barr
Roinn