Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to allow tenants of voluntary housing agencies who are living in three bedroom houses which are not adequate to their needs and where the voluntary housing agency does not have larger houses to become approved applicants of local authorities that have four bedroom houses, to facilitate transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24704/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of my Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. In cases where a particular social housing need exists and where a voluntary housing body is unable to meet this need from its existing housing stock, the person or family concerned should apply to the relevant housing authority for social housing appropriate to their needs. It is a matter for housing authorities to determine the eligibility of all applicants for social housing including applicants who may be tenants of voluntary housing bodies.

In keeping with the lifecycle framework introduced in the new Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, which has been reflected in my Department's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, we are working to put in place a graduated and flexible system of housing supports to meet the housing needs of applicants over their lifetimes including strengthening appropriate mechanisms to cater for those households already in receipt of housing support who require a change in the support being provided on foot of their changing circumstances.