Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will review the local authority housing policy with a view to revising the system whereby voluntary housing agencies appear to cherry pick applicants with the acquiescence of the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21177/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department's Capital Funding Schemes for voluntary and co-operative housing, funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of permanent accommodation for low-income families and persons with special housing needs where all proposed tenants have been assessed by the housing authority as being in need of social housing.

Approved housing bodies providing accommodation for persons with special housing needs, such as the elderly, homeless or persons with disabilities, may retain nominating rights for up to 25% of tenancies; in such cases, the terms of the Capital Assistance Scheme provide that funding is subject to a limit of 95% of the approved cost. The administration of the capital funding schemes, including the nomination of tenants from the authority's housing list, is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority.