John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 595: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the checks carried out by local authorities to determine whether or not housing applicants both national and non Irish national are property owners in another country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24943/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The assessment of housing need, including verification of the relevant circumstances of applicants, is a matter for the local authority concerned. As standard procedure, local authorities seek information on applicants' accommodation history and have powers under Section 15 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 to seek information from a range of relevant bodies in relation to applicants.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on putting a cap on rent for local authority tenants who due to financial circumstances in the past were unable to purchase their homes and who have remained tenants for over 30 years and due to age and the increase in house valuations find that they are still unable to purchase their home but are paying rents in some instances the equivalent of a mortgage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24944/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Local authorities are responsible for the adoption of their differential rents schemes and my Department has no direct function in their administration. While my Department's circular letter HRT 3/2002 laid down broad principles in relation to the content of local authority differential rents schemes, including that the rent payable should be related to income with a smaller proportion of income being required from low income households, the placing of a cap on rent charged under a scheme is a matter for each individual local authority.