Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 538: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will re-examine regulations that he issued to local authorities that prevents families (details supplied) from being considered for either voluntary or local authority housing. [19607/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with guidelines issued by my Department in 2003 two categories of non-EU nationals have a right to apply and be assessed for local authority housing: those who have been granted refugee status and those who have been granted leave to remain in the State.

Persons residing in Ireland on the basis of having a work permit are not entitled to apply for local authority housing. A work permit is issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to an employer, in respect of an employee, on a temporary basis and such holders at this stage do not have permanent rights to remain in the country or to be considered for social housing. There is no proposal at present to review these arrangements.