Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the categories of immigrants who are eligible to be placed on a local authority list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19877/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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It is a matter for individual authorities to decide on the eligibility of applicants for social housing and the allocation of houses to eligible applicants within the terms of their approved Scheme of Letting Priorities.

The provision of social housing support by housing authorities is determined on the basis of a number of eligibility criteria, of which residency is one. These residency criteria are determined in the context of prevailing national and EU legislation. Circular HPS 4/08 issued by my Department in February 2008, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, sets out the entitlements regarding access to social and affordable housing generally.

In general, non-Irish nationals are entitled to seek housing support from a housing authority on the same basis as an Irish citizen if they have established a legal right to remain in the State on a long-term basis or have acquired the right of permanent residence. This would include resettlement refugees, persons given subsidiary protection status and nationals of countries within the European Economic Area.