Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there are regulations or guidelines in place on the way local authorities should treat applicants on their housing waiting list who have received a financial settlement as a result of a marital breakdown following which the applicant to the local authority housing list has left the family home; the circumstances under which persons who find themselves in this position can access a local authority housing waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26417/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for each housing authority to determine, in accordance with section 9 of the Housing Act 1988, whether a household is or is not reasonably able to meet the cost of the accommodation which they are occupying or to obtain suitable alternative accommodation.

In general, housing authorities do not assess the long term housing needs of separated persons until a legal separation agreement is in place which details the long term use of any assets (including the family home). Once this is in place, the housing authority can, upon receipt of an application, make a decision on the nature of that person's long term housing need. Once an authority has determined that a household is in need of support there are a range of housing options, including local authority housing, the Rental Accommodation Scheme, the Social Housing Leasing Initiative, housing provided by approved bodies and sites for households to build on, that can be made available to these households.