Local Authorities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022

Thursday, 8 September 2022

Ceisteanna (552)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

552. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that Galway County Council is required by his Department to have an option on its social housing application housing forms expressing a preference for a house in Galway city when in practice this never happens due to the pressure on housing there; if he will now release this requirement and make a ruling that all the applicants to Galway County Council for social housing who put down a preference for housing in the city would be allowed to transfer to the City Council list and retain the years that they had built up on the county housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42624/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Generally, households may only apply for support to one local authority. This 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.

A household meeting these conditions, and which resides in a county with two or more local authorities, may specify up to three areas for receipt of support across those authorities. If qualified, the household will be entered on the housing waiting list of each of the authorities concerned. Accordingly, a household applying to Galway County Council and selecting an area of choice in the Galway City will be entered on the waiting lists of both Galway County and City Councils without having to make a separate application to the latter.