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.